Saturday, October 3, 2026 · Edition

45 guides
13 new in this edition
5 sections
15 topics

Money & Investing · Topic · 45 guides

Investing for Beginners

A free, plain-English investing guide for complete beginners. Below you'll learn how markets work, how to get your finances ready, which tax-advantaged accounts exist where you live, and how to judge fees and risk before you put in a single dollar. It's slow, deliberate learning: most people spend a few weeks on the groundwork before their first small investment, and investing always involves the risk of losing money.

Start here

How to Start Investing Without Fear: Your First Investment, Explained

Read the full guide →

All Investing for Beginners guides

newest first

Oct 3 · 13 guides

Money & InvestingNew
How to Cash In Savings Bonds
How do I cash in savings bonds? Paper bonds go to a bank or by mail with FS Form 1522; electronic bonds are redeemed in TreasuryDirect. Rules and taxes.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & InvestingNew
529 Plan Qualified Expenses: What You Can and Can't Pay For
529 plan qualified expenses include tuition, books, housing, computers, K-12 tuition up to $20,000 and more. See what counts, what doesn't and the tax.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Are 529 Plans a Bad Idea? Pros, Cons and Alternatives
Why 529 plans are a bad idea for some families: penalties, market risk, fees and aid rules. When the tax break wins, and the alternatives to compare.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & InvestingNew
How Does a 529 Plan Work?
How does a 529 plan work? You invest after-tax money, it grows tax-deferred, and qualified education withdrawals are tax-free. Rules and limits for 2026.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & InvestingNew
I Bonds Explained: Rates, Limits and How to Buy
I bonds are inflation-linked US savings bonds. See the current 4.26% rate, the $10,000 yearly limit, the 12-month lock-up, taxes and how to buy them.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & InvestingNew
How Are Dividends Taxed? Qualified vs Ordinary
A stock dividend is taxable income because it's your share of company profits. How qualified and ordinary dividends are taxed in 2026, with examples.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Roth IRA Interest Rates: Why There Isn't One (and What Grows Instead)
Roth IRA interest rates don't exist as such: the account earns whatever you hold inside it. How cash, CDs, bonds and funds grow, and what to check.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Can You Open a Roth IRA for Your Child?
Yes, you can open a Roth IRA for your child if they have earned income. How custodial Roth IRAs work, the 2026 limit, taxes and the catches.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & InvestingNew
The Roth IRA 5-Year Rule, Explained
The Roth IRA 5-year rule decides when earnings come out tax-free. How the contribution clock and each conversion clock work, with examples.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Can You Roll a 401(k) Into a Roth IRA?
Yes, you can roll a 401k into a Roth IRA, but pre-tax money becomes taxable that year. The rules, the tax math, Roth 401(k) rollovers and alternatives.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Backdoor Roth IRA: How It Works, Step by Step
A backdoor Roth IRA means a nondeductible traditional IRA contribution, then a Roth conversion. 2026 steps, the pro-rata rule and Form 8606.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Can You Have More Than One Roth IRA?
Yes, you can have more than one Roth IRA, but the 2026 limit is shared across all of them. How it works, the 5-year clock, and when to consolidate.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & InvestingNew
Roth vs Traditional IRA: What's the Difference?
The difference between a Roth and traditional IRA is when you pay tax. Compare 2026 limits, deductions, withdrawals and RMDs, with the math.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read

Oct 2 · 13 guides

Money & Investing
Robo-Advisors Explained: Fees, Pros and Cons
A robo advisor builds and manages a portfolio for you online. Compare 2026 fees at major providers, the pros and cons, and how to check one first.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
Fractional Shares: How They Work and Who Offers Them
Fractional shares let you buy part of a stock or ETF in dollars. How orders fill, dividends, voting and transfers work, and which brokers offer them.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in CDs: Rates, Terms and Ladders
How to invest in CDs for beginners: how CD rates and terms work, 2026 national averages, bank vs brokered CDs, early withdrawal rules and CD ladders.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in Mutual Funds for Beginners
How to invest in mutual funds for beginners: where to buy, how NAV pricing works, share classes, loads and 12b-1 fees, minimums and taxes, step by step.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in Private Companies Like OpenAI
How to invest in private companies like OpenAI: accredited investor rules, crowdfunding, funds that hold private stakes, and the risks to know first.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in IPOs as a Regular Investor
How to invest in IPOs as a regular investor: broker IPO access programs, eligibility rules, the prospectus, lock-ups and why first-day prices swing.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest During Inflation
How to invest during inflation: what rising prices do to cash, bonds and stocks, how TIPS and I bonds work, and the plan changes that make sense in 2026.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest During a Recession
How to invest during a recession: protect your cash first, keep a long-term plan, rebalance, and skip the market timing and recession-proof pitches.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Avoid Investment Scams: Red Flags and Checks
How to avoid investment scams: the SEC's red flags, the schemes aimed at beginners, how to check a seller fast and what to do if you've been targeted.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest HSA Funds
How to invest HSA funds: the 2026 limits, how much cash to keep, what to invest in, saving receipts, the 20% penalty and the state tax catch.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest $10K: A Beginner's Decision Guide
How to invest $10K: check debt and savings first, match the money to your timeline, pick the right account, then decide between a lump sum or monthly buys.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in Small Businesses: Options and Risks
How to invest in small businesses: equity crowdfunding, direct deals, angel rounds and public-market funds compared, with the limits, risks and checks.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in the S&P 500
How to invest in the S&P 500: what the index holds, the accounts and fund types that track it, the costs to check and the risks of owning only one index.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read

Oct 1 · 5 guides

Money & Investing
How to Buy Treasury Bonds, Bills and Notes
How to invest in Treasury bonds, bills, notes, TIPS and I bonds: buying on TreasuryDirect or through a broker, minimums, taxes and the risks to know.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Read a Stock Chart for Beginners
How to read a stock chart for beginners: price and time axes, line vs candlestick charts, volume, moving averages, and why charts can't predict prices.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in Silver: Coins, Bars, ETFs or Miners?
How to invest in silver: bullion coins and bars, silver ETFs, mining stocks and silver IRAs compared, plus premiums, storage, taxes and scam warnings.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Build an Investment Portfolio From Scratch
How to build an investment portfolio in six steps: set goals, pick an asset allocation, diversify with funds, choose accounts, automate and rebalance.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest for Retirement: A Beginner's Map
How to invest for retirement: which accounts to fill first, 2026 contribution limits, what to hold as you age, and how withdrawals and fees work.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read

Sep 29 · 14 guides

Money & Investing
How to Invest in Your 20s
How to invest in your 20s: build a cash cushion, grab any employer match, use tax-advantaged accounts and keep it simple, diversified and low-cost.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in Real Estate With Little Money
How to invest in real estate with little money: REITs, REIT funds, crowdfunding and house hacking compared, with the fees, limits and liquidity risks.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & Investing
Roth IRA for Beginners, Explained
Roth IRA for beginners: how it works, the 2026 contribution limit and income phase-outs, withdrawal rules, and how to open one and invest inside it.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest in Gold: Options, Costs and Risks
How to invest in gold: physical bullion, gold ETFs, mining stocks and gold IRAs compared, with the real costs, taxes and scam warnings to know first.
Investing for Beginners · 9 min read
Money & Investing
How to Choose a Broker (What to Look For)
How to choose a broker as a beginner: check regulation and protection, compare fees and account types, and spot red flags. A checklist, not a ranking.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
Common Beginner Investing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
The most common beginner investing mistakes, from skipping the emergency fund to chasing tips and ignoring fees, and simple habits that help avoid them.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
Emergency Fund vs Investing: What Comes First?
Emergency fund vs investing: why most beginners build savings first, when an employer match changes the order, and how to split money between the two.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How Much Do You Need to Start Investing?
How much you need to start investing: often a few dollars to open an account, but the real threshold is an emergency fund and no high-interest debt.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Open a Brokerage Account
How to open a brokerage account step by step: the information you need, cash vs margin, which account type fits your country and what to check first.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
Stocks vs ETFs vs Bonds: The Basics
Stocks vs ETFs vs bonds explained: what each one is, how they make or lose money, how risky they are, and how beginners often combine them.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
Index Funds for Beginners, Explained
Index funds for beginners in plain English: what they are, how they differ from ETFs and active funds, what to check on fees, and the risks to understand.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How to Invest With Little Money
How to invest with little money: fractional shares, low-minimum funds, micro-investing and workplace plans, plus the fees that matter on small amounts.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
Best Investments for Beginners in 2026
The best investments for beginners are usually simple, diversified and low-cost. Compare the main categories, their risks and what to check before you buy.
Investing for Beginners · 7 min read
Money & Investing
How Does the Stock Market Work? A Plain-English Guide
How the stock market works in plain English: what a share is, who buys and sells, why prices move, and what it means for a beginner investor.
Investing for Beginners · 8 min read