How To Start Buying Stocks On Your Own May 2026

You need a middleman (a broker) to access the stock market. For 2026, several platforms stand out for beginners: How to Invest in Stocks as a Beginner - NerdWallet

Before you click "buy," decide if you want to be a hands-on picker of individual companies or a passive investor using index funds or Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).

: Many experts suggest beginners start with diversified ETFs (like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) ) to own a small slice of hundreds of companies at once.