Most people don't look at owning stocks as owning a piece of a business, but in fact, you are a part owner and in many cases, you have a say. The best benefit of all, you can earn money, help make decisions that impact the business and never have to show up to work for a single day.

Investing in stocks is the cornerstone of any financial portfolio. Without investing in stocks, you wont be able to realize your retirement dreams (unless you actually work for a huge company as CEO and will be getting a package big enough for you not to have to worry about investing, in which case, you should be playing golf and not reading this).

The key to realizing your retirement dream is to know the road to financial freedom. It all starts with an understanding of stock market investing. Its not just knowing how to buy; that just scratches the surface. You'll need to have a full appreciation of what goes on each and every day in the stock market.

If you look at the average daily trading volume over the last 25 years, you'll notice that there has been a lot of growth. That growth has been fostered by the average guy or gal's interest in stocks. What was once a way for the rich to get richer, is now an opportunity for a smart average person to get a few up on the Jones' and even join the ranks of the rich. Now thanks to discount brokerages and the internet, almost anyone can become a shareholder.

That has its good points, and its bad points.

While anyone can become a shareholder, most do not completely understand stocks. They usually buy something based on something they heard on the news or worse, from a friend. They dont know what they own, but, its the next big thing. The once in a lifetime chance to get in before the ship leaves.

Folks, its not 1999 anymore. The dot-com era is over. And thank goodness.

Sure, there are stocks out there that will move quickly and reward shareholders accordingly, however, they are the exception. The market averages about 12% per year. If you are a smart investor, you can earn more. If you are lucky, you can earn more. Once your streak runs out, you'll be losing more than your shirt trying to get some of it back.

We're here to help you become a smarter, more informed investor and trader. Yes, you can do both; you just need to know how and when. We'll teach you that.

We'll show you how to protect yourself, how to manage risk, things to look for before you buy, what to look for after you have bought, and when to consider getting out.

The stock market can make you richer beyond your wildest dreams, but, more often than not, to quote Kenneth L. Fisher, "The market is the Great Humiliator. It wants to humiliate everyone but has a strong preference for the biggest and most famous."

Lets see if we can avoid the Great Humiliator and make some money.