I think we have all heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”. I learned this basic rule very early in my life and applied it to online stock trading. Many sites offer fantasy stock market trading platforms. Essentially, you are given theoretical money which you can “trade” in the market. Obviously, real transactions are not being placed, however your account will reflect true values. It is a great opportunity to test your skills before risking your investments. If you screw up, just open another account! These sites are also very similar to online brokerages and allow you to get a feel for how to execute trades. Personally, I started with a mock trading account. After losing my theoretical money multiple times, I began to understand the trading process and learn valuable research techniques. Within a year, my theoretical accounts were gaining profits and I became very confident in my trading abilities. At that point I was comfortable investing my hard earned money.

I recommend http://www.youngmoney.com. The site is very easy to use. Signup is a breeze and you can start trading immediately for free. There are hundreds of mock trading platforms that can easily be found using search engines.

Keep practicing and get a feel for online trading. Once your theoretical dollars begin earning profits on a regular basis, you might feel more comfortable investing real assets. Hope you have fun! Earn some prizes and get free educational training!

E.M.