Investing Online For Dummies, 5th Edition. Research, trade, and track investments online by Kethleen Sindell, PhD
Part I
Online Investing
Fundamentals
In this part . . .
The chapters in this part help you discover why the
Internet should be your starting point for researching
investments. You find out how to develop your own online
investment information system that is geared to your spe-
cific requirements. These chapters point you to a variety
of online investor resources and data, including numerous
Web sites geared primarily toward the beginning investor.
You see how to maximize your returns with tax-deferred
accounts. You also discover how online brokerages and
banks have combined to save you time and money. Find
out how to select an online brokerage or one of these
new hybrids. Test-drive trading online and see what’s
new in customizable trading platforms from major online
brokerages.
Chapter 1
Finding Investor Stuff on the Net
In This Chapter
Creating your own online information system
Using search engines
Joining newsgroups
Subscribing to Internet mailing lists
Accessing online databases
Finding Web sites that fit your unique needs
The Internet has more than two billion Web pages and is still growing. This
information overload has sent some timid investors to full-service brokers,
where they pay high commission fees for brokerage services and investment
advice. Smart online investors can avoid information overload by developing
their own information systems.
This chapter shows how you can take maximum advantage of the Internet’s
many investment tools, links, and resources. The chapter explains the
Internet basics of using search engines, finding investor newsgroups, sub-
scribing to investor mailing lists, accessing online databases, and using Web
sites tailored to your specific needs to maximize your personal wealth.
Building Your Own Online
Information System
Investments provide opportunities to make money in both a bull market (that
is, an up market) and a bear (down) market. No one ever knows for certain
whether the market will go up or down, but investors can develop an informa-
tion system to watch indicators for potential price changes and investment
opportunities. This chapter introduces the elements you can use for building
an online investment information system that meets your specific needs.