Investing 101: Zero to First Trade

2026-07-14

Lesson 4: What is a brokerage account?

A brokerage account is the doorway between your money and investments. This lesson explains what the account does, what information opening one usually requires, and why cash accounts, margin accounts, fees, statements, and account protections matter before a first trade.

Investing 101: Zero to First Trade

Lesson 13: Common beginner investing mistakes before your first trade

Lesson 12: Fractional shares: how owning less than one share works

Lesson 11: The pre-first-trade checklist before you press Submit

Lesson 10: Risk vs. volatility: what those words mean

Lesson 9: 401(k)s and IRAs: two retirement account basics

Lesson 8: How dividends can compound

Lesson 7: What is dollar-cost averaging?

Lesson 6: What is diversification?

Lesson 5: Market Orders vs. Limit Orders

Lesson 4: What is a brokerage account?

Lesson 3: What is an ETF or index fund?

Lesson 2: What is a stock?