Smart investors learn, prepare and take action on their own. When the market is rising, they sell some of it at a profit to lock in gains. And when the market is falling, they buy more shares with money they've saved up or borrowed from friends and family. They don't rely on what other people say about the stock market. Instead, they look for companies that are doing well and buy them at bargain prices.
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In other words, smart investors make their own luck by taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. But how can you tell if an opportunity is worth acting on? Well, there's no surefire way to do this. You have to use your best judgment and learn how to read financial statements so you understand what the numbers mean.
You should also pay attention to company management. Is it honest? Do they care about shareholder value? If you think the answer to either question is "no," then stay away from the stock. Unless you're willing to bet big bucks, you shouldn't gamble with your savings.
When you are just getting started on investing, you will have lots of questions. How much money do I need? Should I invest in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds? What's a bond? These are all good questions. But the one thing you can count on is that someone else has had these same questions before you.
It's easy to find answers. Go online and type in any question you want to ask and see what comes back. There's plenty of information out there, but you'll have to sift through a lot of garbage to get to the really helpful stuff. Don't be afraid to try things and make mistakes. It's better than doing nothing. And remember: The stock market always goes up over time. Eventually, you'll earn a return on your investment. Until then, keep learning.