Investing for Beginners

From stocks and crypto to everything in between, we break down the different types of investment options and how to build a smart portfolio.

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About the course

Instructor Mercedes Barba goes deep on the most popular investing options and offers tips for building a diversified portfolio that works for you.

What you'll learn

Best practices for earning real wealth

Types of investments to consider

Whether to invest or pay off debt

Course overview

INTRODUCTION

Getting started

Meet the course moderator and learn five timeless tips for building sustainable wealth.

6 MIN

LESSON 1

Stock market 101

Learn how to make money in the stock market and easily create a brokerage account.

4 MIN

LESSON 2

What causes stocks to go up and down?

Learn what factors lead to market fluctuations and how to smartly react to losses and gains.

11 MIN

LESSON 3

Types of investments

From CDs to crypto, we rank top investing options from least risky to most volatile.

4 MIN

LESSON 4

Investing vs. saving

Learn when it’s best to save and when it’s best to invest for a secure financial future.

9 MIN

LESSON 5

Investing best practices

Discover our golden rules for investing and the importance of a diversified portfolio.

Meet the experts

Moderator

Sarah Foster

Sarah is the U.S. Economy Reporter at Bankrate. She developed a passion for economics while watching her rural community recover from the Great Recession, and is passionate about educating consumers about Wall Street and the Federal Reserve.

INVESTING

DEBT MANAGEMENT

Instructor

Mercedes Barba

Mercedes Barba is an Emmy-nominated seasoned editorial leader who is a Senior Editor at NextAdvisor, Bankrate’s sister brand. She is passionate about making personal finance easy and understandable to everyone, no matter their age.

INVESTING

STUDENT LOANS

HOMEBUYING

Trusted for more than four decades

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Frequently asked questions

1. You can take the course in one sitting, or start and stop at your convenience.
1. There is a written transcript available if you would like to read the course content.
1. Yes! This course is included in your free Bankrate account along with other exclusive tools and learning resources.

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