Everyone knows how important it is to put money away for retirement. This is not a matter of simply building up a savings account, however, as that doesn't allow for real growth. Sure, you can accumulate a nice chunk of change in a simple savings account thanks to the magic of compound interest, but to amass a truly sizable nest egg, you have to make some smart investments in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds along the way. And in order to gain a better understanding of how these investments work, I recommend opening a dummy account so you can practice stock trading with no risk.
Even if you plan on using a broker for all your transactions, it's important that you know how the market works and what kind of consequences each buy or sell order can have on your portfolio. The best way to do this is to practice stock trading for a few months or a year until you learn the ins and outs of the game. Fortunately, there are a number of websites you can join that offer free investment simulators that mirror market activity without involving real money. This is a terrific way to practice stock trading in a completely safe, pressure-free environment.
All you have to do is find a site that offers market simulators, and then register for a free account. Some sites do require a membership fee that covers a bunch of extra features such as personal instruction and video tutorials, so you might want to consider that route if you plan to handle your own trades in the future. Otherwise, there's really no need to pay in order to practice stock trading. Once you sign up, you'll have a certain amount of fake "money" in your account, at which point you can simulate investing in stocks without risk. These free learning accounts can be invaluable tools in helping you figure out how to make trades, when to ride out a downturn, and when to bail completely.
You can practice stock trading for as long as you like, and then switch to the real thing once you're ready. This usually involves opening an account at an online brokerage, and then making a deposit so you can start buying and selling. Be sure to find a brokerage house that doesn't require account or investment minimums, and that doesn't charge you an inactivity fee if you don't make trades for an extended period of time. Alternatively, you can meet face-to-face with a broker, and have that person handle your portfolio for you.
If you're thinking of getting into the market anytime soon, you should definitely consider going through a simulation first so you can practice stock trading without risk. Once you get the hang of what to do, you can start investing with cold, hard cash and hopefully experience some very high returns.