How to Choose Your First Stock (Even If You’re Clueless About the Market)
- Silivere Bakomeza
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Written by Silivere Bakomeza, founder of BakoInvest
Your First Stock Is Not About Perfection—It’s About Starting
Choosing your first stock can feel overwhelming. You don’t want to pick the wrong one. You don’t want to lose money. And maybe, like most people, you’re afraid of looking stupid.
But here’s the truth: you’ll never feel 100% ready. The market is always moving. Experts always disagree. And information is endless. So instead of waiting to “figure it all out,” the smartest move is to just start.
When I bought my first stock, I had no idea what I was doing. I heard my college economics professor mention the stock market, so I Googled “how to open a brokerage account.” I ended up opening one, but for a whole year I didn’t touch it—I was too unsure.
Eventually, I tried buying a pharmaceutical stock just to see what would happen. My $100 grew to $300 overnight—and I was hooked. I made a lot of mistakes after that, but they all taught me one thing:
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin.
Here’s how to confidently choose your first stock—even if you don’t know much about the market yet.
1. Start With What You Already Use
One of the easiest ways to choose your first stock is to invest in the companies you already believe in.
Use an iPhone? Look into Apple.
Watch Netflix regularly? Consider Netflix.
Do all your shopping on Amazon? Research Amazon.
Always wearing Nike or Adidas? Look at those companies.
The point is simple: what you use every day is already part of your life. That means you understand the product, see the value, and trust the brand. That’s a strong foundation for choosing a stock.
You don’t need to understand every financial ratio or earnings report to make a smart first investment. You just need to understand the company’s place in your world—and its potential in the world at large.
2. Don’t Worry About the “Perfect Entry Price”
Many beginners obsess over timing. They think, “What if the stock drops after I buy it?”
It might. That’s the nature of investing.
But if you’re buying a quality company that you plan to hold long-term, the exact entry price matters a lot less than your consistency and patience.
Instead of trying to time the market, try this:
Pick a stock you believe in
Invest a set amount regularly (even $5/week)
Hold for years—not weeks
This strategy is called dollar-cost averaging, and it helps you smooth out the ups and downs of the market over time.
3. Make It Personal—Then Make It a Habit
Your first stock should mean something to you. That connection makes it easier to hold when prices drop, and it motivates you to learn more about the company, the market, and your own goals.
Eventually, as you grow, you’ll want to build your own strategy. Mine became simple but powerful:
I invest $50/day into one stock—MicroStrategy ($MSTR)
I use option trading on the side to raise capital
I treat investing like building a retirement plan—with conviction, not confusion
That style works for me. Yours might be different. But the only way you’ll find your rhythm is by starting.
4. Use the Right Tools to Get Started
Here are a few beginner-friendly platforms that make it easy to buy your first stock:
Webull: Great for technical data, zero commissions, and free stock bonuses
Robinhood: Simple interface, instant deposits, and fractional shares
Acorns: Lets you invest your spare change automatically with round-ups
Coinbase: If you want to try crypto investing alongside stocks
Crypto.com: Easy crypto app with cashback and card rewards
You don’t need all of them. Pick one that feels right and take your first step.
Final Thought: You’re Not Too Late. You’re Right on Time.
The market doesn’t care when you start—it only rewards those who stay consistent.
You might not know everything about stocks, charts, or economics. But if you know how to save $5, commit to a habit, and think long-term—you already have what it takes.
Your first stock doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
So pick a company you use. Make your first move. And let that be the start of something bigger.
Start Your Investing Journey Today
Here are the tools I personally use and recommend:
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