Ask 11 random people where to invest money and they will tell you: invest in stocks.

Investing in the stock market is what we identify as investing when in reality it may not be the best place to start.

Here I will tell you the reality behind stock trading that the trading gurus who sell courses won't tell you and neither will the brokers and trading platforms for financial assets.

This is what they don't tell you about investing in financial assets:

You need a lot of time and money to learn

What does investing, taking pictures, drawing, playing soccer, golf or tennis have in common?

These are all skills that you don't learn overnight.

They have a long learning process that consists of trying, seeing the result, and repeating until you master the technique.

Stock market investing is also the same thing.

No badass investor developed his method in two days and without having suffered losses.

Anyone who says otherwise is lying, just like anyone who claims to have a bullet-proof method for investing at all times in the market and sells it to you in the form of video lessons or courses.

Learning to invest takes a lot of time and will cost you more money than you think. Not to mention the mistakes that beginners make all the time.

From mistakes when choosing how and in which stocks to invest, to mistakes when buying and selling, (buying before it even falls) to making more trades than you should (and paying those absurd hidden commissions).

It takes a lot of discipline and cold blood to be an elite investor

"The investor's main problem, and even his worst enemy, is probably himself" — Benjamin Graham.

They buy on the downside and sell on the upside.

That's how the theory of financial market investing can be summed up. The problem is that doing is much more complicated than saying.

Sometimes something as simple as following your plan and investing all the time in the market can fail. FOMO is everywhere.

This is something about investing in the stock market that most won't tell you because your profit depends on the number of trades you make. Every time you buy or sell a financial asset, they make money from the commissions they charge. Not to mention the hidden fees.

What matters to the brokers is that you buy, sell, trade, win or lose, because then they always win. That is why they send so many buys and sell signals, investment opportunities, and recommendations by email.

And the same goes for most financial markets courses. Forex and day trading.

Would you pay a fortune for a course that only recommends you buy and hold?

Possibly you would feel cheated and tied with a noose around your neck. Besides, with this strategy, you won't get rich overnight, which is what they promise.

You need a lot more money than you think to diversify

You will need 10 to 30 different stocks to diversify your investment portfolio sufficiently.

To invest and diversify well, you need a lot of money.

The amount will depend on your portfolio, but consider that a single Google stock is worth $3,000, Tesla is worth $1200, and Apple is worth $250, to name a few of the more well-known companies.

This affects both your initial capital and the investments you make all the time.

Besides money, diversifying your asset portfolio well requires additional effort and work. And it is that you must choose companies from different sectors and perhaps with more than 100 years on the market, countries and those that the economic cycle affects them in different ways. And also get your choice right.

Short-term thinking is the same as speculation, not investment

Making quick and easy money on the financial market sounds great.

The only problem is that very few manage to do it consistently over time.

Only 1% of short-term investors make money from day trading. The rest, 99% lose money all the time.

It is for this reason, short-term investing is called trading. It is much more linked to speculation than investing.

The long term is the strategy of the badass investors. They do well with it

Do you know what the markets will do tomorrow?

I don't know.

Don't ask Warren Buffett, he doesn't know either.

What I do have clear is the positive long-term trend of the financial markets. I didn't make those numbers up, the past numbers and statistics say that.

There is a relationship between risk, return, and how long you invest. The longer the term, the lower the risk and the higher the return.

The chances of losing money in the short term are much higher.

Investing for the long term works, especially if you can hold your investment and not sell in times of panic.

Money gurus don't tell how they make real money

A broker makes money when you make your trade.

The more often you buy and sell, the more money you generate in commissions, even if you made or lost money.

What about a stock investor who sells stock market courses?

The vast majority make more money from these courses than from their investments.

There, I said it.

If they made that much money on the stock market, they would not be training other people to do it.

That is the reality of investing in the stock market by yourself: a lot of time, money, and effort.

If you like to analyze stocks, dive into the market, and invest, perfect. If this is not your case, that's it too.

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This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered Financial or Legal Advice. Consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.

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