<prompt> Human: So I am trying to start investing in companies, what are the basics that I should know before I start investing money? I plan on using Robin Hood as that seems like a popular and simplistic way to get started.Update: Im 22 and just about to start being fully employed and have around 1,500 that I have allocated away for investing in different forms of investmentsEdit: Personal Info Update  <response>: Generally speaking we dont like investing in individual stocks. As a sebreddit we overwhelmingly favor investing using index funds. You also should be taking advantage of tax advantaged accounts like a 401k, Roth IRA, or HSA before investing in a taxable account. You can use Robin Hood to invest in index funds by buying ETFs, but I would recommend using a brokerage like Vanguard, Fidelity or Charles Schwab instead. Robin Hood however does not have an IRA account option. 