<prompt> Human: Ive recently received 20,000 USD of spare money and I would like to invest a portion of it in stocks. However, Im a college student with no experience with stocks or investment at all. How do I start buying stocks? Where do I buy stocks? What should I know before I invest in the stock market? How do I know which stocks to buy? What resources are there to help me? Thank you! Edit:Hello again! Just to clear things up; I come from a fairly well off family and have adequate savings apart from this money. So, while Im grateful for the advice regarding my expensesretirement, theyre not of financial concern. Im asking how to invest specifically in the stock market. I would ask my parents except theyre immigrants and have never invested in stock.  <response>: The stock market will give you about 6 per year. Sometimes, it will be twice that, sometimes it will be negative, but thats the average. Dont invest in stocks if youre going to need that money in the next 3 years, for college or your first apartment. If you are planning to use the money on that, just save it, or most of it, at least.The best thing to do, if you have plenty of money for the short-mid term, is to save for retirement. You want an IRA with a low cost index fund. Look it up. But basically, the bank opens an account and buys stocks for you with the money you put into it. 