How to invest in Stock

[WCGRider]

I have about $1k and am looking to invest in the stock market. Its something ive always wanted to take a shot at, and ive never had an amount of money thats worth the time (Not that 1k is by any stretch of the imagination a significant amount of money). Id like to ask what the best way to go in order to be able to buy stock at the lowest price for trading would be, and any advice about the stock market would be great.

Thanks

[skindog]

Put it all in an index fund/etf (read the faq) and start reading as many books as possible! Actively investing without reading anything is like being the 70/0/0 donk at 1/2.

[canadiensfan66]

realistically how risky is the stock market? And how likely is it that $1k could actually turn a large profit over a year or so time? Would poker be a better investment lol?

[skindog]

Yes, for 1k poker is a much better investment, assuming you can beat it. It's not very likely that you'll make a significant amount in the stock market with a 1k investment - in an awesome year you'd make something like 40%.. $400 - not that much.

As for poker, I started with 625 on 2/1/07 and now I'm at 18k... and I don't consider my run/play to be awesome. Try turning 625 into 18k on the stock market in 8 months!

[polkaface]

Define "large profit". If you want to have $1200 after a year (20% return) you have a better chance doing that at poker than you do in the stock market. Although you also have a better shot at being at $600 after a year.

A 2% swing is a crazy day in the market. Not in poker.

Poker has more variance than the market.

As far as being a better "investment". How good are your poker skills?

[WCGRider]

@ polkaface (Lol my last name is polk)

Im beating 25 NL for about 7 bb/100 over 30k hands. im at 600$,What do you think?

[MooBot3000]

move up @ 20-30 buy-ins strategy...if you have the time to invest the returns in poker >>> returns in market. If you don't have the time, put it into the funds already mentioned...