How To Invest In Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide For Getting Started

Young woman working on laptop with the text “How to Invest in Stocks” and The Motley Fool jester cap logo

If you want to learn how to invest in stocks but you’re not sure where to start, then we’re here to help. In this guide on investing for beginners, we break down the key steps you need to consider, along with some practical hints and tips to get you off to a smooth start.

Investing in stocks and shares can transform your finances, although you do need a plan and you need to be able to stick with it for the long term. If you can, then the magic of compound returns can get to work. For example, did you know that £10,000 invested in the UK stock market 50 years ago would now be worth around £750,000?

Here are the seven steps you’ll learn about getting started with investing:

Let’s get into the details.

1. Set investing goals

The first step in learning how to invest in stocks is to ask yourself, what exactly is your goal? After all, everyone’s financial goals are different. We all have different time horizons and objectives. Younger investors are often seeking to build wealth, while older investors typically look to protect it.

Establishing investing goals is a highly personal process. And there are multiple ways of going about it. However, professional financial planners tend to use the SMART system (or variants of it).

  • Specific – make the objectives clear and precise. For example, are you saving for a house? Looking to pay for university? Growing a retirement fund? Maintaining a nest egg?
  • Measurable – set a completion condition for each financial goal to know when it has been achieved.
  • Achievable – what level of returns do you need to achieve your goals? What do you need to do to achieve them?
  • Realistic – are your goals realistically achievable?
  • Time – how long do you have to achieve your goals?

2. Choose your investment strategy

A great first step for investing beginners is to decide on an investing strategy

Think about how much time you’re willing and able to devote to investing. You can pretty much automate all your investing these days, making it simple and easy to grow your wealth. Or you can get much more involved, researching individual stocks and deciding which ones to buy and sell.

There are plenty of financial instruments available to stock market investors today. Each works slightly differently with various degrees of risk and potential returns.

  • Index trackers – Buying shares in an exchange-traded fund is a highly popular approach for individuals who want to put their investments on autopilot. You’ll never beat the market with an index fund because your portfolio effectively becomes the market. Each tracker follows a specified index like the FTSE 100, S&P 500, or Nasdaq, and replicates their performance.
  • Unit trusts & funds – For investors who want to try their hand at beating the market but don’t have the time or interest in learning to analyse stocks, investing in a fund and/or investment trust is another option. A manager will pick stocks on your behalf in exchange for a small annual fee. But not every manager is Warren Buffett, so you need to choose carefully.
  • Stocks & shares – Picking your own stocks and shares requires a larger time commitment than the first two options. And it undoubtedly carries more risk. But when done correctly, it’s the most profitable approach. The Motley Fool is a strong believer that just about anybody can beat the market by owning individual stocks over the long term, but only if they’re willing to put in the necessary effort. 

If you’re not quite sure which of these three approaches to choose right now, then don’t worry. We would say that index trackers are probably the best first step for most people who are just learning how to start investing.

But there’s nothing stopping you from trying all three approaches and seeing what works best for you. Or you might decide to start with index trackers and then move into funds and trusts, then onto individual stocks and shares as you get more comfortable when making an investment decision.

The most important thing is to have a plan and to make sure it’s one that suits your temperament so you can stick with it over the long term.

3. Decide how much to invest

There are a few questions to start with when deciding how much to invest.

How much do you need to start investing?

Many people are put off buying stocks and shares because they think it requires a lot of money. That used to be the case, but it certainly isn’t anymore.

Share dealing charges for buying individual stocks and shares are much lower than they used to be and it’s possible to set up plans that allow you to invest in stocks and shares from as little as £25 a month.

How often should you invest?

Invest in stocks and shares every month. In fact, setting up a regular plan to buy index trackers or funds and trusts can be an excellent way of investing for beginners, as you can build up a sizeable position over time. That’s especially true when the effects of compounding enter the picture.

Let’s demonstrate the power of compounding.

On average, the FTSE 100 delivers a return of around 9% annually when including income from dividends. Assuming this dividend income is re-invested, and every month £25 was added to the portfolio, a total of £9,000 would have been deposited into the account after 30 years. 

But how much do you think the portfolio would be worth? It’s actually closer to £51,610 thanks to all the income it generated over the years. 

Now let’s say you’ve managed to land a well-paying job and have £500 to invest each month. Under the same assumptions, how much do you think you’d have after 30 years?

The answer: £1,032,200! Now that’s a nice retirement plan!

How long should you invest for?

Most people are investing for their retirement, so their investing time frame can be measured in decades. We believe that’s the best way to invest as the stock price can be quite volatile in the short term, but they tend to be much more predictable over the long term. Look at any graph of long-term stock market returns, and you’ll see it goes up and to the right.

However, we would agree with most people who recommend that you don’t invest money that you think you’ll need in the short term, which probably means anytime in the next three to five years.

4. Open an investing account

If you’re going to buy stocks and shares, then you’ll need to open a brokerage account. There are many different brokers available, offering a low-cost way of buying stocks and shares in the UK, US, and most other major markets across the world.

You’ll want to compare their charges and see which share dealing account offers the best value for you. Some brokers have very cheap dealing fees while others are very competitive when it comes to monthly administration charges. Others will allow you to buy a fractional share in a business, or provide you with investment advice.

Which investment platform is best for you will depend on how much you want to invest, how often you want to buy and sell, and whether you want a wider range of investing options.

How to open a brokerage account

Opening a share dealing account is relatively simple. You probably need to link it to either your bank account or debit card and you may need details like your National Insurance number. The broker will carry out some basic identity checks behind the scenes and then you should be able to start investing in stocks. It will probably just take a few minutes from start to finish.

If you are just learning how to start investing, then a single account with a broker is probably all you need. However, many people end up with multiple accounts, if they find that one broker is good value for certain investments, while others might be better in different areas.

Take a look at our top-picked share dealing accounts in the UK to find one that’s right for you.

Good for beginner investors looking to invest regularly in funds or shares

Barclays Investment Account *

Barclays Investment Account *
Apply Now On Barclays’ secure website
Risk Warning Investments are complex and involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s necessary for you to understand the nature of these risks. You should consider whether you understand how Share Dealing Accounts work and whether you can afford to take the risk of losing money. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more.

Trading Commission

From £0

Account Management Fee

0.25% p.a.

  • Pros & Cons
  • Fees & Charges

Pros

  • Low-cost investing, with no charge to buy or sell funds
  • Huge choice of investments
  • Easy for beginners

Cons

  • £50 minimum investment to create portfolio
  • Expensive to hold large portfolios of equities, compared to peers
  • Barclays current account required if you want to use the Barclays app to manage your investments

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: 0.25% per annum

Shares custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Dealing Fees:

UK shares & ETFs: £6 (no charge for automated regular investments)

US shares: £6

European shares: £6

Fund trades: £0 (no charge for automated regular investments)

Spot + FX fees: tapered from 1% to 0.1% (depends on trade value)

Telephone dealing charge: £25

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. For more information on why and how we work with partners, click here.

How to avoid the tax man (legally)

One thing we definitely recommend is investing in stocks and shares within an Individual Savings Account, or ISA. If you’re under 40, you can also open a variation of this called a Lifetime ISA, or LISA, where the government adds a bonus to your account, subject to certain conditions.

Investing in stocks and shares within an investment ISA or LISA means you pay no income tax on any dividends and no capital gains tax on your profits when a share price increases. Admittedly, when you first start investing, the amount of any tax you pay might be tiny, but it’s surprising how quickly that can change when you’ve been investing for a few years. 

Investing in a Stocks and Shares ISA could save you thousands of pounds in tax each year further down the line and it usually doesn’t cost anything extra to have one.

Good for long-term, cost-conscious investors who want lots of flexibility

Interactive Investor Stocks and Shares ISA *

Interactive Investor Stocks and Shares ISA *
Apply Now On Interactive Investor’s secure website
Risk Warning Investments are complex and involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in. Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances and tax rules, which could change.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s necessary for you to understand the nature of these risks. You should consider whether you understand how Stocks and Shares ISAs and Robo-Investing products work and whether you can afford to take the risk of losing money. Remember that taxes can be complicated and the tax benefits of these products depends on your personal circumstances. Tax rules are subject to change. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more

Trading Commission

From £3.99

Account Management Fee

From £4.99

  • Pros & Cons
  • Fees & Charges

Pros

  • Very cheap trading costs 
  • Flat-rate platform fee structure
  • Inclusive free trades with some plans

Cons

  • No dealing fee discount for frequent trading
  • Some plans can be expensive for smaller portfolios
  • Limited trading tools

Interactive Investor offers three different subscription plans – these are easy to switch between at a later date, should circumstances change.

Investor Essentials plan

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £4.99

Equities custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund management charge: covered by subscription fee

Note: the ‘Investor Essentials’ plan has a £50,000 investment limit; if this is exceeded the account will automatically be upgraded to the ‘Investor’ plan.

Dealing Fees:

UK shares & ETFs: £3.99

US shares: £3.99

Other international shares: £9.99

UK fund trades: £3.99


Investor plan

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £11.99

Equities custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund management charge: covered by subscription fee

Dealing Fees:

A monthly dealing credit, worth £3.99, is included as part of the account subscription and is valid for 31 days. (Equivalent to 1 free trade per month).

Additional trades are charged as follows:

UK shares & ETFs: £3.99

US shares: £3.99

Other international shares: £9.99

UK fund trades: £3.99


Super Investor plan

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £19.99

Equities custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund management charge: covered by subscription fee

Dealing Fees:

A monthly dealing credit, worth £7.98, is included as part of the account subscription and is valid for 31 days. (Equivalent to 2 free trades per month).

Additional trades are charged as follows:

UK shares & ETFs: £3.99

US shares: £3.99

Other international shares: £5.99

Fund trades: £3.99


Applicable to all plans

Regular investing service: free to use (£25 minimum investment amount, no dealing fees)

Spot + FX fees: 1.5%

Telephone dealing charge: £49

Note: For UK and US trades over £100,000, and other International share trades over £25,000 additional fees and charges apply. (See the Interactive Investor website for full details.)

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. For more information on why and how we work with partners, click here.

An alternative tax-protected way to invest is through a Self-Invested Personal Pension, or SIPP. SIPPs probably have the edge when it comes to the amount of tax you can save. And any contributions up to £40,000 a year is actually tax-deductible!

But this advantage does come with a caveat. Under current rules, you can’t withdraw any money until you are 55 years of age. It is, after all, a pension account.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

5. Choose which stocks to buy

There are a few steps to choosing stocks.

Getting ideas for stocks and shares

Think about the products you use every day, the food you eat, and the services you buy. The chances are there is a well-known stock exchange-listed company behind them. Or there might be a customer or supplier you come across while you’re working that seems to dominate its industry. Great ideas for stocks and shares are all around us.

Our premium investing services also have great share recommendations. You can read more about our premium services to see which is right for you.

But you don’t need to buy every single good stock idea you come across, as otherwise you could end up buying hundreds of different companies. So, you’ll want to concentrate on what you think are your best stock ideas and maybe add the ones that come close to a watch list so that you can revisit them at a later date.

Researching your stock ideas

The internet makes it easier to research companies you’re interested in investing in. Each public company should have a part of its website called ‘Investor Relations’ that will contain their detailed reports, presentations, and explanations about how their business works.

You can draw on your experience as a customer, read company reviews to see what others think, and ask people who have to deal with the company directly what they think.

Diversify your portfolio of stocks and shares

One concept that’s very important to understand when you’re learning how to invest in stocks and shares is diversification. In short, it means don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

You want to buy stocks and shares from different industries and make sure they are diversified globally rather than being concentrated in a single country. While it’s tempting to learn just how to invest in UK stocks, it can make a lot more sense to spread your net a little wider. That way you can ensure that your stock portfolio won’t be overly dependent on a few key areas, and you can smooth out the bumps that are a natural part of investing in any business.

6. Keep track of your investments

Once you’ve bought your stocks and shares, you’ll need to follow their progress. You can sign up for news alerts for the companies you’re invested in and you can keep track of their share price via your broker or at financial websites like The Motley Fool.

It’s a good idea to jot down some notes about why you decided to invest in a particular company in the first place and list any performance targets that they have set for themselves. 

Apart from being an easy way to track the progress of a company it also serves as a useful tool when it comes to selling.

Knowing when to sell a stock is a problem even professionals struggle with. But by writing down the reasons why you bought the stock in the first place, it can make the selling decision much easier.

If the reasons why you bought the stock are no longer true, or the income/growth potential of the business has been compromised, then it might be time to head to the exits.

7. Review your portfolio on a regular basis

It’s a good idea to review your individual holdings on a regular basis and also to consider how your portfolio looks as a whole. Share prices move up and down all the time and you may find you have a little too much invested in one area or perhaps too little in another. In such cases, you might want to rebalance things a little.

Over time, you might find you build up a long tail of small positions. It might be time consuming to keep track of all of them so you might want to cut loose your least favourite ideas so that you can concentrate on your best ones.

It’s also sensible to download any contract notes you receive for buying and selling shares and the transaction history of your account covering any cash going in and out, dividends received, and so on.

Not only might you need this information to measure your investing success, it will also save a lot of time when filling out a tax return for investments made in non-tax efficient accounts.

You’re ready to start investing!

Now that you’ve learned all the steps to investing as a beginner, you’re ready to get your hands dirty. Get out there and start building wealth!

This article contains general educational content only and does not take into account your personal financial situation. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be considered, and you may need to seek independent financial advice.  

To the best of our knowledge, all information in this article is accurate as of time of posting. In our educational articles, a "top share" is always defined by the largest market cap at the time of last update. On this page, neither the author nor The Motley Fool have chosen a "top share" by personal opinion.

As always, remember that when investing, the value of your investment may rise or fall, and your capital is at risk.