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Index funds are low risk investments. They are a form of passive investing where you invest in a portfolio that tracks a market index like the Russell 2000 and S&P 500. With this type of set up, your fund manager will pick individual stocks for you to invest in. Invest in IRA and Roth IRA stocks, as well as socially responsible investments (SRI) like the TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund (TICRX) if you are a new investor. Investing in individual stocks takes a lot of research and time. You will need to research a company's earnings, management, and future prospects, among other things, to be able to distinguish between a good and bad investment. After you invest, you will also need to monitor your stocks.  You can find this information through the business section in the news, stock analysts' research reports, social media, or the research platform provided by your stock brokerage company. If you cannot spend a few hours a week or more to research your investments, then invest in index funds instead of individual stocks. The buy-and-hold approach is a low risk, passive form of investment. A buy-and-hold investor buys stocks for the long term, letting their value appreciate over a period of time like 3 to 5 years or more. If you want to reap the benefits of your investment at a later date, try the buy-and-hold approach. Depending on what kind of brokerage service you have, a broker may help you decide which stocks to invest in. Trading stocks involves buying and selling stocks within hours or days to make gains based on short-term price volatility. It is an active form of investment that typically requires experience. You will not only need to be knowledgeable about the companies whose stocks you are buying and selling, but also experienced in actively trading stocks.  You can become an experienced trader by taking programs and workshops provided by your stock brokerage company. You must have a brokerage account to be a trader. Although you will have control over when to buy and sell different stocks, your broker will be the one who is making the actual trade. The broker makes a commission off of the trade.
Be an index funds investor if you are a beginner. Invest in individual stocks if you understand the market. Take the buy-and-hold approach if you are a beginner. Be a trader if you are experienced.