Back in the old days, trading was handled by brokers who worked with their clients on ways to best improve their portfolios.
But since the advent of the Internet, and more specifically online trading, the days of needing someone else to make your investments are quickly receding into the past.
Online trading gives investors direct access to the market without having to rely on an intermediary to buy and sell stocks. By doing it yourself, not only are you forgoing a hefty brokerage fee, you’re saving something just as valuable when it comes to playing the market: time.
Sometimes, the window of investment opportunity is only open for a few moments. By trading online, you can capitalize on breaking news regarding a hot stock hours before traditional investors dial up a broker to make the deal.
Of course, just because you own a computer with an Internet connection doesn’t mean you’re ready to gamble your life savings away with online investing. Too many people have already fallen prey to the allure of what they perceive to be easy money.
That’s why it is important to learn the ropes before you begin investing online. At the...