Most people have the assumption that only the rich can invest in the stock market. That is not true. The power of the Internet, online brokers, and direct investment programs make it possible for anyone to start investing for their financial future. Whether you’re saving for college, a house, or retirement, investing in the stock market isn’t as hard as you might think.

But where do you start? The first decision to make is based on how much money you have to start with. If you have between $25 and $100, you may want to look into companies that offer direct investment programs. There are more than 1,000 companies that have direct investment programs. Companies like Clorox and Walt Disney offer these kinds of programs. Each company has a set of rules, such as a minimum initial investment, administrative fees, and if they offer an actual stock certificate, where it takes place. Look carefully at direct investment programs as they have different terms. You can spend time searching online for direct investment companies, or you can pay a nominal fee for a list of direct investment companies.

If you have more than $200 to invest, you may want to search for brokers online. Online brokers offer different services for different fees. The do-it-yourself type of person would like an online broker for the flexibility it offers. You can buy shares of many different companies and have all the information in one place, your portfolio. You can easily view all your investments from there. When considering an online broker, look at more than just the fee per trade. You may want a broker that offers trailing stops (to limit losses), allows you to buy pink sheets, has online tutorials, an online community to share ideas, and more.

Now that you have decided direct or online, it is time to think about the companies in which you want to invest. Think about the products you use every day. Your favorite brand of shoes, soft drinks, your phone company, you get the picture. Most of these companies are publicly traded.

This information should take some of the mystery out of starting to invest in the stock market. Great brokers aren’t the only way to start saving for your financial future.