Investors can build a solid investment portfolio by learning about the basics of investing and how markets work. However, investors need to make sure they have a strong understanding of their own investing and trading goals before deciding on specific investments. A good place to start is with a free or low-cost investing course that provides a comprehensive learning experience. Some examples include Stock Market from Scratch for Complete Beginners and The University of Central Florida’s introductory investing course. These courses are asynchronous and offer lifetime access to the lessons and additional resources.
Many online brokerages also provide their own educational tools for investors and traders. For example, TD Ameritrade (AMTD) has a comprehensive educational section of its website that includes information, articles and videos. This platform covers topics like charting and technical analysis, portfolio management, stock screeners and more. The site also offers webinars and live seminars to help investors with their research.
Another option is to sign up for a subscription with an online stock market research service, such as GuruFocus. This platform helps investors find and follow high potential stocks by providing pre-built model portfolios that are constantly updated to reflect real-time data. Its dozens of pre-built model portfolios (examples: Top Growth Stocks, Undervalued Predictable and more) allow investors to compare the risk/reward ratio of different stocks. Its unique screeners (example: Chinese Stocks, Bank Stocks and AI Stocks) make the risk assessment process easier for value investors.
A premium subscription to Seeking Alpha provides investors with a wealth of research, analysis and insights. The platform’s Premium users get to read earnings call transcripts and audio, listen to the performance of its “Very Bullish” and “Very Bearish” stocks, as well as access to expert interviews. The site’s Quant feature evaluates and ranks stocks based on an algorithm, and the platform’s “Top 10” ranked stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 by more than 300%.
While there are many free online investment learning platforms, it’s important to look for red flags when considering paying for an investment course. These can range from grammatical errors in the course descriptions to an instructor with a conflict of interest. It’s also important to check out reviews of the investment course before making a decision. An in-depth look at Prosperi Academy is what you need to get you started on investment.
The best in-depth investment learning platform is one that meets the specific needs of the individual investor. For example, investors should consider whether they want to learn about specific stocks or mutual funds. Stocks are individually owned shares of a company, while mutual funds are collections of different stocks that reduce the amount of research needed when making a decision to invest. Investors should also think about their own investing goals and priorities, including sustainable investments. Regardless of the investment, it’s always a good idea to consult with a trusted financial advisor before making any decisions.