Foundations of Markets
What markets are, the building blocks every investor needs, and how to open an account and place your first trade.
Tick lessons off as you go, saved in this browser, no account needed.
- 1What Is a Stock
Ownership, explained
What Is a Stock? Shares, Ownership, and Claims
- 2Bonds
Lending, explained
Bond Basics: How Fixed-Income Securities Work
- 3Common vs Preferred
Share types
Common vs Preferred Stock: Key Differences
- 4Market Cap
Sizing a company
Market Capitalization: What It Is and Why Size Matters
- 5What Is Risk
First principles
Investment Risk: What It Is and How to Measure It
- 6Diversification
Spread exposure
Diversification Investing: How It Cuts Portfolio Risk
- 7Business Cycle
How economies move
Business Cycle: Phases, NBER Dating, and Investing
- 8GDP
Output & growth
GDP Explained: How to Read Economic Growth Data
- 9Inflation
Why prices move
Inflation: CPI, PPI, and PCE Explained for Investors
- 10Interest Rates
The cost of money
Interest Rates: How They Work and Move Markets
- 11Income Statement
How firms report
Income Statement: How to Read Every Line
- 12ETFs
Pooled exposure
Exchange Traded Fund: How ETFs Are Built and Priced
- 13Brokerage Account
Where you invest
What Is a Brokerage Account?
- 14Reading a Quote
Bid, ask, last
Anatomy of a Stock Quote: Bid, Ask, Last, Volume
- 15Your First Trade
Step by step
Placing Your First Trade, Step by Step