There are several ways to approach stock investing. Which of the following statements best describes you?

The good news is that regardless of which of these statements you agree with, you’re still a great candidate to become a stock market investor. The only thing that will change is the “how.”

First, let’s talk about the money you shouldn’t invest in stocks. The stock market is no place for money that you might need within the next five years, at a minimum. How much money do I need to start investing in stocks? The amount of money you need to buy an individual stock depends on how expensive the shares are. (Share prices can range from just a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.) 

Generally speaking, to invest in stocks, you need an investment account. For the hands-on types, this usually means a brokerage account. And opening a brokerage account is typically a quick and painless process that takes only minutes. you should consider a few things before choosing a particular broker like the type of account, the features or the cost.

Here’s one of the biggest secrets of investing, courtesy of the Oracle of Omaha himself, Warren Buffett. You do not need to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results. (Note: Warren Buffett is not only the most successful long-term investor of all time, but also one of the best sources of wisdom for your investment strategy.)

The most surefire way to make money in the stock market is to buy shares of great businesses at reasonable prices and hold on to the shares for as long as the businesses remain great. If you do this, you’ll experience some volatility along the way, but over time you’ll produce excellent investment returns.