Before buying stocks, you should first familiarize yourself with the stocks and the stock market. After that you have to find a stock broker, a mediating party between you and sellers. In looking for a stock broker, consider your options. Are you going to settle for an online broker for online transactions? Or do you prefer face to face transactions? Stock brokers can also give you tips on how to buy stocks. So consider you needs. For example if you are still a beginner, a full-level brokerage might suit you best.

But to have a successful investment, it is not enough that you know how to buy stocks and that you have a broker. You should also be able to determine which stocks are worth investing in and which are not. In order for a stock to be a good investment it has to be profitable. Profitable stocks are those with values that rise over time. And to determine which stocks will most likely have a rising value, you have to consider three factors: the history of the stock; the management history; and the business plan of the company.

You have to know the history of the stocks mainly to find out which demonstrated a rising value for the past quarters. Stocks that have an upward trend are worth buying because, most probably, the trend will just continue. Another thing to look at is the management. A good history of success is a sign that your money will be in good hands.  But of course, the company should have good plans for the future. Having a good management is useless if the future plans of the company do not seem promising.

It is not easy to create a successful stock portfolio. You have to know how to buy stocks. And you should be able to recognize which stocks are worth buying. But what is more difficult is maintaining, more so, improving the state of your investment. You should be able to respond to the fluctuations in the stock market. Sell if you have to. And buy when there is a good opportunity. However, no matter how good you are, technically speaking, you will not reach your desired end if you have no interest in what you are doing.

A direct stock purchase, or buying stocks directly from a company, is perhaps the easiest and simplest way to get stocks from your chosen company. This method eliminates the need for an online account with a third party company and a human stock broker. By simply contacting your company of choice or visiting their web site, you will get first hand information on whether or not they offer a direct stock purchase program, and if they do, how it works. Normally, direct stock purchasing fees are less than the fees you pay if you go through a third party human stock broker or through an online stock trading website.

However, there is a downside to purchasing stock directly. If you are planning to invest in different kinds of stocks, you would need a direct purchase account with each and every company you’re interested in, instead of just one account that is required when you go through a stock broker or an online account.

On the other hand, using online stock brokers has been one of the most popular investment trends in stock trading over the years. These websites allow you to buy limitless stock on lower commissions and costs compared with their human counterparts. Moreover, they also help their customers keep abreast with the latest stock trends and prices by providing them information and analyses. You can say that it is the most ideal setup for those who do not wish to get into the market literally. One pitfall to online investing though is that it works best for people who are in the know when it comes to the nuts and bolts of trading. It is common knowledge that a lot of people have failed at their attempts to successfully engage in stock trading due to their lack of knowledge on investment basics, or by picking stock tips that are inaccurate.

Ultimately, it is through a human stock broker that a beginner can learn the ropes of investing in stocks. It is also considered the smartest move for a beginner who wants to know how to buy stocks. Although the commissions can be high and success is not guaranteed, it allows you to ask your broker questions regarding the stock you want to buy. By going through a broker, you eventually become more knowledgeable when it comes to stock trading, a plus you cannot get from online stock trading. Using human brokers prepares you for the big time because they’ll train you how to buy stocks intelligently.

1. Before you decide on buying stocks, you must already have an idea of what you are interested in. Do research first. You should choose your stocks with care as the stock market may crash anytime. Look for a stable company so that you can be assured that your money will not be relatively safe.

2. Engage the services of a broker. Brokers are more knowledgeable on how to buy stocks. You have three choices when it comes to brokers: Full service brokers, Discount brokers and Online brokers. Actually, they are all the same. They only differ from each other in terms of the price they charge and the advice that they provide. Full Service brokers charge you by getting a portion or a commission; a certain percentage of your purchase. Discount brokers charge US$10 to US$20 for every trade of 1,000 shares or less. On the average, discount brokers charge an amount that is 1/3 of that of Full service brokers. Online brokers charge US$9 to US$15 for every transaction.

3. Be ready for some technical terms or jargon that the brokers may ask you. Since they know how to buy stocks very well, you should anticipate questions like “Market or limit order?” and “Day only or good ‘till cancelled?” So to translate: when placing an order to your broker, if you choose a market order, you are saying that you want to purchase a stock regardless of whatever happens to the prevailing price of that stock. A limit order on the other hand lets you set a specific price that you are able and willing to pay. Your order will be automatically filled once the stock dips down to that level. Limit orders can either be for one day only or indefinitely or good until it is cancelled.

4. After buying a stock, you can tell your broker to sell it if the price goes down to a certain level that you have specified. This is also known as stop loss order which can be likened to an insurance since you’ll never lose more than the amount you specified no matter what happens to the price of the stock.

Ultimately, knowing how to buy stocks will not save you from losing money. Considering the state of America’s economy today, you should think twice before deciding on buying a stock from a certain company. Most companies are closing nowadays, laying off workers and declaring bankruptcy. There are still some companies that still stand strong despite the economic crisis. But the bottom line is, are you willing to gamble in these tough economic times?