Investing Stocks: Invest in the Stock Market at SmartMoney.com

Investing 101

If you're a novice investor — or you're looking to brush up on a specific investing concept — this is the place to start. We've tailored this section to give you the foundation you need to start making wise investment decisions. We'll show you the basics of investing theory, introduce you to the concept of risk management and get you familiar with the major asset categories: stocks, mutual funds and bonds. We'll also tell you what you need to know about taxes and investing so you can avoid giving too much of your nest egg to Uncle Sam.

	Why It Works
	Investing may seem like a glorified form of gambling, but we've got a secret for you: Unlike Vegas, the odds are stacked in your favor. This set of three interactive lectures will explain why. Overcoming Inertia The Power of Compounding The Odds Are in Your Favor
	Risk vs. Reward
	There's no avoiding it: Risk and investing go hand-in-hand. But the truth is, investing wisely is often less risky than not investing at all. This four-part series will explain how you can manage risk to maximize your rewards. Risky Business? Time vs. Risk Stock Market Chamber of Horrors Look Out Below The Waiting Game Sorry, Wrong Numbers Wall Street Water Torture Monday Nights at Denny's Defense Is the Best Offense
	Stocks
	Stocks go up. Stocks go down. We all know that much. But to make money in stocks, you have to understand what drives their behavior and use it to your advantage. This course will take you from start to finish. Taking Stock What Is a Stock Anyway? How Stocks Behave The Large Caps The Road Runners Foreign Stocks Technology Stocks How Much is This Stock Worth? Trading on Margin Options 101 Advanced Courses The SmartMoney Approach It's All Relative Digging Into the Numbers
	Mutual Funds
	Diversification, professional management -- mutual funds have a lot to offer. But picking the right one from the more than 8,200 available is no easy task. This course will show you how mutual funds work and how to choose intelligently. $10 Trillion and Counting What Exactly Is a Mutual Fund? Style Search Index Funds Company Size Investment Strategy International Funds Sector Funds Bond Funds Money Market Funds Cost Control Closed or Open End? Exchange-Traded Funds Advanced Courses Welcome to the Monkey House 7 Steps to Picking a Good Fund SmartMoney Fund Screens
	Bonds
	You've heard the mantra: When prices go up, yields go down. Don't worry, you're not the only one who finds it confusing. This course will have you talking "coupon rate" and "face value" in no time. Who Needs Bonds? What Exactly Is a Bond? When Price Goes Up, Yield Goes Down Risk vs. Reward: How Bonds Behave Types of Bonds Bonds vs. Bond Funds Advanced Courses Building a Bond Strategy Smoothing Out the Ride Laddering Your Bond Portfolio Bonds or Bond Funds So You Wanna Be a Bond Trader
	Other Investments
	Stable-value funds, annuities, CDs. You're bound to be pitched these investment options. Some are good, some aren't worth it. This course will explain which are which. CDs: Low Risk, Low Return Does Anybody Really Need Annuities? What Is a 'Stable Value' Investment?
	Taxes and Investing
	Before you put your money to work, there are some key tax issues to consider. This course will walk you through the magic of retirement accounts, the bane of capital gains and what you need to know about mutual funds and taxes. The Taxing Side of Mutual Funds The Magic of Retirement Accounts The Dreaded Capital Gains Tax