Are you a Beginner when it comes to Individual Stocks?

Are you a beginner when it comes to investing in individual stocks?

You are not alone.  Many do not understand what a stock or bond is, yet they invest in mutual funds through 401ks at work without a true understanding about the nature of the investment.  Mutual funds managed by portfolio managers and investment professionals utilize stocks, bonds and other financial products when managing the assets of the mutual fund. 

National Association of Investors Corporation(NAIC) and the Association for Individual Investors(AAII) are two nonprofit organizations that have been around and are dedicated to assisting beginners to understand stocks, mutual funds and other financial products and services of interest to its members.  You don't have to start an investment club with a live portfolio...if anything, you can read their literature, attend a conference, meet with others, and discuss a paper portfolio.  Instead of pooling funds into the investment club account, you can do a mock portfolio and track it to see if your ideas worked.