If the gap between learning about investing and actually investing your cash seems daunting, there is an intermediate step you can take. Yep, that’s right, pretend investing is really a thing.

The Mock Portfolio 

The mock portfolio allows you to create a list of stocks and track their progress over time. with real-time stock portfolio tracking. Through it, you can hone your stock-picking style, practice diversification, and even your own investment theories. In fact, most brokerage websites, such as Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, and Motley Fool provide such services.

You can start by creating a portfolio using ticker symbols of your choice. Then you can access real-time data according to your preference. Review a stock’s fundamentals and even download mock portfolio data to a spreadsheet if you like. In other words, the mock portfolio will protect your psyche and emotions while practicing real investing strategies before you dive headlong into real-time offers.

Virtual Investing 

Virtual investing goes a step further than the mock portfolio. Many brokerage and investment sites, such as Sharebuilder and optionsXpress, allow you to open a virtual trading account for free. Via such service, you can receive the full experience of real stock trading. You can place your “play money” on buying and selling orders for stocks, options and more. This way, you will become familiar with using an online trading interface and navigate through the more sophisticated features, useful tools when the time comes for actually investing your cash. 

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