Many people are attracted by the thought of investing in stocks, but you should not do so casually. This article will discuss some of the most important tips that you should consider before purchasing stocks and risking your hard earned money. Keep on reading so you can learn more.

You should have a high bearing investment account with at least six months worth of salary in it saved for just a rainy day. This allows you to have a cushion if you lose a job, suffer an illness or have any other issues that prevent you from covering your bills, so that you do not need to dip into your investments.

Don’t try and time the markets. It has been proven that steadily investing over a large period of time has the best results. Figure out how much you can invest without causing undue hardship to your budget. Put this amount into the stock market and continue to do so regularly.

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) is a phrase that can definitely be applied when you are making stock market investments. Maintain a simplistic approach to your trading style and market analysis so that you are not making unnecessary risks or leaving certain steps unaccounted for.

Experiment, at least on paper, with short selling. This means you need to loan some stock shares. They will promise to return these shares at a later time. An investor will then sell the shares to where they will be repurchased if the stock price falls.

To make your portfolio work for you, create an investment plan or policy and put the rules in writing. You should have strategies written down of when you should sell and buy. This should include clearly defined investment budgets. This will allow you to make your choices with your head and not your emotions.

Do not invest a great amount of money in the stock where you work. You can include some of your company’s stock in your portfolio, but you don’t want it to be heavily laden with it. If your company should suffer and the stock loses all its value, you could experience a significant financial loss and have very negative feelings toward your employer.

A long-term plan is wise if you want to make a lot of money from a stock market investment. You’ll also be a lot more successful by having realistic expectations as opposed to trying to predict unpredictable things. Keep stocks in your portfolio for whatever period is necessary to generate profits.

The temptation to jump into trading on the stock market can be overwhelming. However, make sure to become educated so you can make wise decisions. What you’ve read here is just a start, so keep reading and have fun!