The stock market is a major contributor to any economy, and with the rise of the Internet, online investing is a very real and highly effective mode of investment. For people new to this sector, it can be a little intimidating at first, because to be honest, stock prices move extremely fast. The Internet is an extremely powerful tool in this regard, and the key is to overcome the inherent fear of losing money, and actually use all the strengths of the web, in order to make better investments. Everyone will tell you that one must do all the research possible and leave no stone unturned, but the truth of the matter is that too much information can actually prove to be an obstacle, because let's face it, most of the tips you find over the Internet are unnecessary and exaggerated. What you need is a good financial advisor, either at a personal or professional level, who will guide and teach you the nuances of investing. The Brokerage Account The brokerage account is a very important tool for getting started. There are many providers who run online trading platforms, and most of them charge different fees for a multitude of services. Choose a reasonable option, which is anything below USD 5 for an online trade. It is also advisable to choose an account that requires no account minimum, offers real-time support, and also allows you to purchase mutual funds for free. Look around a little more extensively, and you will easily find such a service provider. The Broker Another advantage is that the trading fees and commissions for brokers are much lower, over the net. As a result, it is a highly lucrative concept. Finding the right investment advisor is imperative. Make sure that he has some sort of reputation in the market, because getting fleeced by brokers is a problem that many first-time investors face on a regular basis. If you are not happy with your current broker, simply take your investments elsewhere. There really is no shortage of online brokers. Automatic Contributions This is a system wherein a certain amount is automatically transferred from your savings for investment purposes. It sounds a little risky, but once you get used to it, you will find it extremely beneficial in the long run. A great advantage of doing this is dollar cost averaging, which means that the cost per share gets lowered as you make additional purchases. It is important to choose the right company or sector. Keep yourself updated with the daily news and business happenings, and keep an eye on the market as well. Do not follow your broker's advice blindly, learn to judge for yourself, when to put in money and when to withdraw it. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) The United States Securities and Exchange Commission is a public resource publisher and an independent agency that is aimed at regulating and monitoring the investment opportunities in the country. Get your financial data from them, and analyze the predictions that they regularly publish on their website. They also put up the annual and quarterly reports of companies, and provide detailed reports about the expected trends in the market. Investing is all about analyzing and scrutinizing the resources available in public domain. Be Warned This is a volatile field, and one that must be approached and dealt with carefully. There are many unethical brokers and parties that go around offering free advice, sometimes they even look to manipulate the stock prices. Be wary of such practices. Stay away from forums of any kind, and do not believe anything you hear, unless you have concrete information. Do not get disheartened if you lose money sometimes, you can always make it up in the future. Also, do not invest all your money in one company or stock alone. Make a larger portfolio and cover various sectors to spread the risk. It is recommended to consult a reputed and experienced advisor, before going ahead with your investment. Disclaimer: This article is for reference purposes only and does not directly recommend any specific investment choices.