After a decade covering stocks, Motley Fool contributor Brett Schafer advises beginners to start with companies they know, aim for a portfolio of about 10 stocks and invest gradually rather than put all their savings into a few shares at once.
Schafer defines dollar-cost averaging as investing equal amounts at regular intervals regardless of market conditions. He also recommends a brokerage with zero-fee stock trades and says too many holdings can feel overwhelming; he suggests adding only a couple of new stocks each year.
