No Guts, No Glory.

I've decided to start investing my money through a discount broker. Why now? Because I finally have some money set aside to start investing. Now I'm not planning my retirement around this portfolio, it is more a fun little exercise in risk taking. I'll be buying companies that I love (Ford, Microsoft, Google, NRG energy, Exxon Mobil, Johnson & Johnson, etc.), small companies that have huge growth (and collapse) potential, and perhaps some ETFs and REITs. This, of course, is just for enjoyment and hopefully a small profit. I feel comfortable in going it alone with this risky portfolio because it is not my retirement portfolio. I encourage everyone to become involved in their retirement planning and investing is a huge cornerstone of that.

Get involved in your 401k, IRA, Roth IRA, etc. Plan your future, don't leave your retirement accounts unchecked. Seek financial advice from a licensed expert. But that said I encourage you to make some decisions on your own. It is rewarding and fun, just don't get too crazy about each stock idea you come across. I suggest budgeting some money for investment ideas or wishes that you have.

There is so much information available about investing, starting to invest can be intimidating. Don't be discouraged, just continue learning. The best way to get a feel for investing is paper trading. This used to mean writing down stock picks on a piece of paper and watching the price to see if the stock went up or down. Today there are countless stock market simulation games available for free on the Internet. Try some out, get a feel for buying stocks. Then, when you're comfortable, look into budgeting some money so you can open your own brokerage account.

Here are some online brokers and investment info sites:
TD Ameritrade
Scottrade
Fidelity
Motley Fool
Investopedia
Interactive Brokers
E Trade