How To Make Money In Stocks (2024)

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Ask any financial expert, and you’ll hear stocks are one of the keys to building long-term wealth. But the tricky thing with stocks is that while over years they can grow in value exponentially, their day-to-day movement is impossible to predict with total accuracy.

Which begs the question: How can you make money in stocks?

Actually, it isn’t hard, so long as you adhere to some proven practices―and practice patience.

1. Buy and Hold

There’s a common saying among long-term investors: “Time in the market beats timing the market.”

What does that mean? In short, one common way to make money in stocks is by adopting a buy-and-hold strategy, where you hold stocks or other securities for a long time instead of engaging in frequent buying and selling (a.k.a. trading).

That’s important because investors who consistently trade in and out of the market on a daily, weekly or monthly basis tend to miss out on opportunities for strong annual returns. Don’t believe it?

Consider this: The stock market returned 9.9% annually to those who remained fully invested during the 15 years through 2017, according to Putnam Investments. But, if you went in and out of the market, you jeopardized your chances of seeing those returns.

  • For investors who missed just the 10 best days in that period, their annual return was only 5%.
  • The annual return was just 2% for those who missed the 20 best days.
  • Missing the 30 best days actually resulted in an average loss of -0.4% annually.

Clearly, being out of the market on its best days translates to vastly lower returns. While it might seem like the easy solution is simply to always make sure you’re invested on those days, it’s impossible to predict when they will be, and days of strong performance sometimes follow days of large dips.

Read More: Best Stocks To Buy And Hold

That means you have to stay invested for the long haul to make sure you capture the stock market at its best. Adopting a buy and hold strategy can help you achieve this goal. (And, what’s more, it helps you come tax time by qualifying you for lower capital gains taxes.)

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2. Opt for Funds Over Individual Stocks

Seasoned investors know that a time-tested investing practice called diversification is key to reducing risk and potentially boosting returns over time. Think of it as the investing equivalent of not putting all of your eggs in one basket.

Although most investors gravitate toward two investment types—individual stocks or stock funds, such as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETF)—experts typically recommend the latter to maximize your diversification.

While you can buy an array of individual stocks to emulate the diversification you find automatically in funds, it can take time, a fair amount of investing savvy and a sizable cash commitment to do that successfully. An individual share of a single stock, for instance, can cost hundreds of dollars.

Funds, on the other hand, let you buy exposure to hundreds (or thousands) of individual investments with a single share. While everyone wants to throw all of their money into the next Apple (AAPL) or Tesla (TSLA), the simple fact is that most investors, including the professionals, don’t have a strong track record of predicting which companies will deliver outsize returns.

That’s why experts recommend most people invest in funds that passively track major indexes, like the or Nasdaq. This positions you to benefit from the approximate 10% average annual returns of the stock market as easily (and cheaply) as possible.

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3. Reinvest Your Dividends

Many businesses pay their shareholders a dividend—a periodic payment based on their earnings.

While the small amounts you get paid in dividends may seem negligible, especially when you first start investing, they’re responsible for a large portion of the stock market’s historic growth. From September 1921 through September 2021, the S&P 500 saw average annual returns of 6.7%. When dividends were reinvested, however, that percentage jumped to almost 11%! That’s because each dividend you reinvest buys you more shares, which helps your earnings compound even faster.

That enhanced compounding is why many financial advisors recommend long-term investors reinvest their dividends rather than spending them when they receive the payments. Most brokerage companies give you the option to reinvest your dividend automatically by signing up for a dividend reinvestment program, or DRIP.

4. Choose the Right Investment Account

Though the specific investments you pick are undeniably important in your long-term investing success, the account you choose to hold them in is also crucial.

That’s because some investment accounts give you the benefit of certain tax advantages, like tax deductions now (traditional retirement accounts) or tax-free withdrawals later (Roth). Whichever you choose, both also let you avoid paying taxes on any gains or income you receive while the money is held in the account. This can turbo charge your retirement funds as you can defer taxes on these positive returns for decades.

These benefits come at a cost, though. You generally cannot withdraw from retirement accounts, like 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts (IRAs), before age 59 ½ without paying a 10% penalty as well as any taxes you owe.

Of course, there are certain circ*mstances, like burdensome medical costs or dealing with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, that let you tap into that money early penalty-free. But the general rule of thumb is once you put your money into a tax-advantaged retirement account, you shouldn’t touch it until you’ve reached retirement age.

Meanwhile, plain old taxable investment accounts don’t offer the same tax incentives but do let you take out your money whenever you want for whatever purpose. This lets you take advantage of certain strategies, like tax-loss harvesting, that involve you turning your losing stocks into winners by selling them at a loss and getting a tax break on some of your gains. You can also contribute an unlimited amount of money to taxable accounts in a year; 401(k)s and IRAs have annual caps.

All of this is to say, you need to invest in the “right” account to optimize your returns. Taxable accounts may be a good place to park your investments that typically lose less of their returns to taxes or for money that you need in the next few years or decade. Conversely, investments with the potential to lose more of their returns to taxes or those that you plan to hold for the very long term may be better suited for tax-advantaged accounts.

Most brokerages (but not all) offer both types of investment accounts, so make sure your company of choice has the account type you need. If yours doesn’t or you’re just starting your investing journey, check out Forbes Advisor’s list of the best brokerages to find the right choice for you.

The Bottom Line

If you want to make money in stocks, you don’t have to spend your days speculating on which individual companies’ stocks may go up or down in the short term. In fact, even the most successful investors, like Warren Buffett, recommend people invest in low-cost index funds and hold onto them for the years or decades until they need their money.

The tried-and-true key to successful investing, then, is unfortunately a little boring. Simply have patience that diversified investments, like index funds, will pay off over the long term, instead of chasing the latest hot stock.

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How To Make Money In Stocks (2024)

FAQs

How To Make Money In Stocks? ›

The stock market's average return is a cool 10% annually — better than you can find in a bank account or bonds. But many investors fail to earn that 10%, simply because they don't stay invested long enough.

Can you make a lot of money in stocks? ›

The stock market's average return is a cool 10% annually — better than you can find in a bank account or bonds. But many investors fail to earn that 10%, simply because they don't stay invested long enough.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

If you invest $400,000 into a dividend stock with a 3% yield that pays monthly, you'll get roughly $1,000 per month. If you invest in a high yield stock, you could get to $1,000 per month with much less invested.

Can I make money in stocks as a beginner? ›

Yes, if you approach it responsibly. As it turns out, investing isn't as hard — or complex — as it might seem. That's because there are plenty of tools available to help you. One of the best is stock mutual funds, which are an easy and low-cost way for beginners to invest in the stock market.

How do you make fast money in stocks? ›

Fastest Ways To Become Rich by Investing in the Stock Market
  1. Day Trade. If you're a nimble and proficient trader, probably the “easiest” way to make fast money in the stock market is to become a day trader. ...
  2. Sell Short. ...
  3. Trade Speculative, Over-the-Counter Stocks. ...
  4. Dabble in Meme Stocks. ...
  5. Earn Compound Interest.
Jan 17, 2023

Can you make $1,000 a month with stocks? ›

Over time you'll find that your investment portfolio's base capital can, indeed, grow to hit your target. Making $1,000 per month in dividends will take patient investing – whether you're buying stocks or funds – or a lot of up-front capital. But with the right mix of yield and patience, you can get there.

Can you make $1000 in a day from stocks? ›

Despite requiring a work ethic, being able to earn $1,000 per day is still highly achievable. Some opportunities will not require you to learn new skills. To make $1000/day with hot stock options, you'll need to know how to buy and sell stocks at the right time to buy and sell.

How much will I have if I invest $500 a month for 10 years? ›

If you invested $500 a month for 10 years and earned a 4% rate of return, you'd have $73,625 today. If you invested $500 a month for 10 years and earned a 6% rate of return, you'd have $81,940 today.

How much will I make if I invest $100 a month? ›

You plan to invest $100 per month for five years and expect a 6% return. In this case, you would contribute $6,000 over your investment timeline. At the end of the term, your portfolio would be worth $6,949. With that, your portfolio would earn around $950 in returns during your five years of contributions.

What if I invest $20 dollars a week? ›

Small amounts will add up over time and compounding interest will help your money grow. $20 per week may not seem like much, but it's more than $1,000 per year. Saving this much year after year can make a substantial difference as it can help keep your financial goal on your mind and keep you motivated.

Which stock is best for beginners? ›

List of Best Stocks for Beginners
CompanyIndustryMarket Cap (Rs. crs)
Reliance IndustriesOil & Energy1,693,373
TCSIT1,112,461
InfosysIT584,277
CoforgeIT20,345
4 more rows
Feb 28, 2023

How much stock should I buy as a beginner? ›

Most experts tell beginners that if you're going to invest in individual stocks, you should ultimately try to have at least 10 to 15 different stocks in your portfolio to properly diversify your holdings.

What should I sell first on stocks? ›

Shares with the greatest cost basis are sold first. If more than one lot has the same price, the lot with the earliest acquisition date is sold first. Shares with a long-term holding period are sold first, beginning with those with the greatest cost basis.

How long does it take to become rich from stocks? ›

It can happen in a year. But striking a top theme, too, can make you a millionaire in two to four years. If you're playing sectors, and pick the right one, it can take nine years to hit a million bucks.

How to become a millionaire with stocks? ›

7 Strategies To Become A Millionaire With Stocks
  1. Invest in yourself.
  2. Save money.
  3. Minimize taxes on investment gains.
  4. Keep investment costs low.
  5. Invest in stocks.
  6. Choose the best stock investments.
  7. Invest every month.

How many millionaires are made from stock market? ›

The roaring stock market and crypto gains created more than a million new millionaires in the U.S. last year, according to a new report. The number of Americans with $1 million or more in investible assets surged to a record 14.6 million in 2021, according to a report from wealth research firm the Spectrem Group.

Do stocks pay you monthly? ›

While most companies pay dividends quarterly, there are 60 stocks that pay dividends monthly. And many of them have high dividend yields above 7%.

Is investing $100 a month in stocks good? ›

Key Takeaways. Investing just $100 a month over a period of years can be a lucrative strategy to grow your wealth over time. Doing so allows for the benefit of compounding returns, where gains build off of previous gains.

How much money do I need to invest to make $500 a month? ›

If your goal is to earn $500 a month, or $6,000 per year, you'd need at least $200,000 of dividend-paying investments.

Is it hard to make $100 a day trading? ›

You're really probably going to need closer to 4,000 or $5,000 in order to make that $100 a day consistently. And ultimately it's going to be a couple of trades a week where you total $500 a week, so it's going to take a little bit more work.

Can you make $100 a day trading? ›

A day trader might make 100 to a few hundred trades in a day, depending on the strategy and how frequently attractive opportunities appear. With so many trades, it's important that day traders keep costs low — our online broker comparison tool can help narrow the options.

How much will I get if I invest $1,000 in stock? ›

Do not expect high returns while investing your first Rs 1,000 in stocks. Stocks are not 'lottery' tickets. Even if you get a return of 100% in 6 months, still you will make a profit of only Rs 1000 (Rs 166 per month on average). This isn't going to affect your life financially.

What if I invest $50 a week for 30 years? ›

If you were to save $50 each week, that would result in an annual savings of $2,600. Over the span of 30 years, that's $78,000.

What will $5,000 be worth in 20 years? ›

Answer and Explanation: The calculated present worth of $5,000 due in 20 years is $1,884.45.

What will $10,000 be worth in 20 years? ›

With that, you could expect your $10,000 investment to grow to $34,000 in 20 years.

Is investing $50 a month worth it? ›

It's a common myth that you need a few thousand dollars to begin investing. It actually works in your favor to start investing early — even with as little as $50 a month — rather than to wait until you have a few thousand dollars saved up.

How to turn $100 dollars into a million? ›

How to turn $100 into $1 million, according to 9 self-made...
  1. 'Invest in something you love. ...
  2. 'Buy and sell items from garage sales. ...
  3. 'Improve and invest in yourself. ...
  4. 'Learn a high-income skill. ...
  5. 'Write an e-book. ...
  6. 'Buy a multimillion-dollar business with other peoples' money. ...
  7. 'Build a personal brand.
Aug 30, 2019

Is investing $100 in stocks worth it? ›

The main argument advanced by proponents of a 100% equities strategy is simple and straightforward: In the long run, equities outperform bonds and cash; therefore, allocating your entire portfolio to stocks will maximize your returns.

How much is $25 a week for 40 years? ›

If you invest $25 per week, you'll end up saving $1,300 every year. Over a decade, you'll stash away $13,000. Over a 40-year time frame, the sum adds up to $52,000. Here's the catch: over those periods, your contributions will also be earning interest.

How many months it will take to save $200 if you earn $20 a week? ›

It should print: “It will take 2.5 months to earn 200 if you make 20 dollars a week.”

How to become a millionaire investing $200 a month? ›

Investing as little as $200 a month can, if you do it consistently and invest wisely, turn into more than $150,000 in as soon as 20 years. If you keep contributing the same amount for another 20 years while generating the same average annual return on your investments, you could have more than $1.2 million.

What are the top 10 stocks to buy right now? ›

Top 10 Stocks To Buy Right Now
  • ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE: NOW)
  • Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)
  • Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN)
  • The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS)
  • Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PANW)
  • The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)
  • Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD)
  • Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)

Which stocks to buy for 5 years? ›

Growth stocks for next 5 years
S.No.NameCMP Rs.
1.Brightcom Group9.80
2.Fineotex Chem245.10
3.R Systems Intl.248.90
4.Oil India258.00
23 more rows

How do I pick my first stocks to buy? ›

5 Steps for Choosing Stocks
  1. Assess the market. Before you add a position, note how the broader market is moving, since research suggests that roughly 75% of stocks move in step with the market. ...
  2. Identify a sector. ...
  3. Screen for stocks. ...
  4. Review the fundamentals. ...
  5. Check the charts.

What is the safest stocks to invest in? ›

Starter Stock Portfolio: 15 Safe Stocks To Buy
  • Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)
  • The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
  • The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)
  • Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)
  • AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)
  • The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)
  • Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)
Mar 30, 2023

Can you buy 1 share of Amazon stock? ›

Yes, you can buy a single share of Amazon stock. It is permitted at all brokerages. If you have an active trading account and the money to purchase a share of Amazon, you should be able to buy a single share with no difficulties.

Is it worth buying 1 share of stock? ›

While purchasing a single share isn't advisable, if an investor would like to purchase one share, they should try to place a limit order for a greater chance of capital gains that offset the brokerage fees.

How long should you hold your stocks? ›

Though there is no ideal time for holding stock, you should stay invested for at least 1-1.5 years. If you see the stock price of your share booming, you will have the question of how long do you have to hold stock? Remember, if it is zooming today, what will be its price after ten years?

How do you know if a stock will go up? ›

We want to know if, from the current price levels, a stock will go up or down. The best indicator of this is stock's fair price. When fair price of a stock is below its current price, the stock has good possibility to go up in times to come.

Can you cash out stocks at any time? ›

Keep in mind that after you sell stocks, you must wait for the trade to settle before you can withdraw money from your brokerage account. This typically takes two business days.

What stocks are rich people buying? ›

Here are nine of the current stocks the wealthiest people in the world are buying.
  • Alphabet (GOOG)
  • Amazon (AMZN)
  • Colgate-Palmolive (CL)
  • Constellation Energy (CEG)
  • Dollar General (DG)
  • Meta Platforms (META)
  • Microsoft (MSFT)
  • PayPal Holdings (PYPL)
Nov 16, 2022

How many stocks should I own to get rich? ›

The Motley Fool's position is that investors should own at least 25 different stocks. Diversifying your portfolio in the stock market is a good idea for investors because it decreases risk by ensuring that no single company has too much influence over the value of your holdings.

How much do I need to save to be a millionaire in 5 years? ›

Although hitting a home run with an investment is what dreams are made of, the most realistic path is to put aside big chunks of money every year. The historical average return for the S&P 500 index is 8%. With that return, you'd have to invest $157,830 each year for five years in order to reach $1 million.

Can you make a living off stocks? ›

Trading is often viewed as a high barrier-to-entry profession, but as long as you have both ambition and patience, you can trade for a living (even with little to no money). Trading can become a full-time career opportunity, a part-time opportunity, or just a way to generate supplemental income.

Does anyone get rich from stocks? ›

Investing in the stock market is one of the best way to get rich, if not the best ways to do so -- as long as you understand that it will typically take awhile. Stocks that increase in value 1,000%, or even 10,000%, generally take many years to do so.

Can you get rich off $100 in stocks? ›

For example, it's totally possible to invest $100 per month into a combination of index funds, ETFs, and individual stocks and then turn the money into more than $1 million dollars over the long term. You may have to wait decades to become a millionaire, but it's still totally possible.

What stock will make me the most money? ›

With that in mind, these 10 stocks could make you a millionaire in 2022:
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL)
  • Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-A, NYSE:BRK-B)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Nike (NYSE:NKE)
  • Innoviva (NASDAQ:INVA)
  • BrightSpere Investment Group (NYSE:BSIG)
  • The Aaron's Company (NYSE:AAN)
Jan 26, 2022

How much can $1 million dollars make in the stock market? ›

Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

What creates the most millionaires? ›

The financial service industry has created the most millionaires in modern times. The financial system manages the money of people worldwide. Behind the most successful ventures in the world are people developing and growing money.

How much money do I need to invest to make $3000 a month? ›

According to FIRE, your portfolio should cover 25 times your annual expenses. Then, if you withdraw 4% of your portfolio every year, your portfolio will continue to grow and won't be compromised. We can apply this formula to the goal of making $3,000 a month like this: $3,000 x 12 months x 25 years = $900,000.

How much can you realistically make from stocks? ›

Generally speaking, if you're estimating how much your stock-market investment will return over time, we suggest using an average annual return of 6% and understanding that you'll experience down years as well as up years.

Can you make millions from stocks? ›

Key Points. Investing in the stock market is one of the best ways to build wealth over the long term. Choosing the right investments is the first step to successful investing. With enough time and consistency, it's possible to accumulate $1 million or more.

Can you become a millionaire from stocks? ›

Answer: Yes, there are individuals who have become millionaires solely through stock trading. However, it is important to note that investing in the stock market carries inherent risks and there are no guarantees of success.

How much will I have if I invest $500 a month for 30 years? ›

If you simply match the historic stock market returns over the past 90 years -- returns that averaged 10% per year -- investing $500 per month will net you over $1 million in 30 years.

How much should a beginner invest in stocks? ›

But you probably need at least $200 — $1,000 to really get started right. Most brokerages have no minimums to open an account and get started buying stocks.

How I made $20 million in the stock market? ›

At the age of 39, after accumulating his fortune, Darvas documented his techniques in the book, How I Made 2,000,000 in the Stock Market. The book describes his unique "Box System", which he used to buy and sell stocks. Darvas' book remains a classic stock market text to this day.

How fast can you become a millionaire with stocks? ›

But striking a top theme, too, can make you a millionaire in two to four years. If you're playing sectors, and pick the right one, it can take nine years to hit a million bucks. What about holding the S&P 500? It'll get you to a million, but you'll need to be patient.

How can I grow money fast? ›

If you're currently living beyond your means and have no additional money to put to work for you, you'll never build wealth.
  1. Save on Vehicles. ...
  2. Save on Shelter. ...
  3. Don't Buy Crap. ...
  4. Save a Percentage of Your Income. ...
  5. Work Hard Now. ...
  6. Invest in Your Education. ...
  7. Invest in Yourself and Your Marketing. ...
  8. Venture into Entrepreneurship.
Sep 26, 2019

What stock will make me rich in 10 years? ›

7 Growth Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years
AAPLApple$141.11
AMATApplied Materials$114.16
ISRGIntuitive Surgical$255.98
WELLWelltower$74.28
CHPTChargePoint$11.87
2 more rows
Jan 23, 2023

How long do stocks take to grow? ›

It can take a couple of years for a stock to appreciate close to a price target range. It would be even better to consider holding a stock for three to five years – especially if you are confident in its ability to grow.

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