Charles Schwab offers a specialized "paper trading" platform where you can practice with virtual money before using real cash.
The easiest way to buy and sell stocks is through an online brokerage account, which can often be set up in about 15 minutes. For most beginners, starting with (buying a "slice" of a stock for as little as $1) and index funds (bundles of many stocks) is the simplest entry point into the market. 1. Set Up Your Access Choose a Beginner-Friendly Broker : easy way to buy and sell stocks
Fidelity is highly rated for its 24/7 customer service and extensive research tools. Charles Schwab offers a specialized "paper trading" platform