Investing can be scary. People tell stories of stock market crashes and the pain of cutting their losses. However, investments offer a dangerous magnetism that pulls people to Wall Street to invest in stocks. People have tried and failed to predict the fluctuations of the market, but as you build your portfolio, you will learn to savor the risky rewards of investment by remembering to play it safe.

While you can't control the market, you can control the products you invest in. Always research before you jump into the market to be sure the product is worthy of your time and - more importantly - your money. A common mistake new investors often make is rushing to invest in a hot stock, not realizing fads are in one year and out the next, and the stock falls just as they're starting to invest.

Just as important as what you're investing in is the reason you're investing in it. This helps you know what to do when the market rises or falls. For instance, if you invest for no reason, when the market falls you won't know whether to hope for the next market high or just cut your losses; however, if you invest for monetary momentum, you'll know that when the market falls it's best to pull out.

The ironic thing about investments is that while no one can predict the market's fluctuations, timing is the key to investing. When the market is up, some play it safe by taking their profits before the fall; others prefer to run their profits with the hope that the market will keep rising. However, all agree that when the market is down, it's best to cut your losses by dropping out before you lose more money.

If you have the means and a reason, investing can be an exciting financial move. It's important to remember that losses are part of the game, so make careful decisions backed by logic, and if you do lose money, keep in mind that successes are in the future. The market isn't meant to eat away your money, it's a tool you should use to your personal advantage.

Most importantly, study the market. Before investing in any stock, look over its record and think over your reasoning to make sure it's worth the risk. If you have the time, some good books about investing are The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias, The Real Life Investing Guide by Kenan Pollack and Eric Heighberger, and The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money and Investing (3rd Edition) by Kenneth M. Morris and Alan M. Siegel.

By staying informed and making sensible decisions, you can make the market your bank account's new best friend. On Wall Street, a market low can be disappointing, but a market high means a gorgeous reward that's surely worth the risk.