How to Make a Motley Financial Investment

If you're looking to invest in the stock market, you may want the help of a firm that's dedicated to maximizing the success of your experience. One such company is The Motley Fool, founded in 1993 with a noble purpose: "to educate, amuse, and enrich their readers and help them make better financial decisions." The Motley Fool is now a leading purveyor of advice and information for investors in the United Kingdom and the United States. Here's how to take advantage of their services.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Start with a visit to the company's website to familiarize yourself with their investing philosophy and process.

2. Tackle your high-interest debt (such as credit cards) before putting money toward stocks or other investments. In typical Motley Fool tone, the authors of the website ask: "Does it make sense to try to save money at the same time your debts are multiplying like bunnies?"

3. Familiarize yourself with investment options, ranging from short-term investments like savings and money market accounts to longer-term investments including the stock market and retirement accounts. Begin to consider how much of your money you need in the near future, how much you are able to forgo for several years, and the amount of risk you are willing to accept.

4. Research stocks you may be interested in purchasing by using the detailed criteria offered on the site such as book value, capital appreciation and dividend yield and earnings per share. Then visit the brokers page where you'll have the option to select from brokers described in a comparative chart.

5. As your understanding about various investments and strategies grows, build a portfolio over time that suits your particular needs and goals. The Motley Fool provides ongoing discussion forums and informational programs to assist you in realizing this end. Good luck!

Resources

• The Motley Fool