Of course part of the reason is the undoubted complexity of stocks and shares but there is just that sneaking suspicion the new investor will have that it is to keep the uninitiated out too. So getting a stock market dictionary will help to even out the playing field. The great advantage of some of the very latest dictionaries is that they are grouped around particular subjects rather than laid out in alphabetical order like an ordinary one. Very simply the market is driven by supply and demand. That means that if there is only a very limited number of shares in a particular company available the demand for them will be far greater than if the market place is awash with them. So you can see that just like an auction where there are a lot of people who want what is on offer the price will increase to reflect that demand. We need to know which types of investment they are considering when they ask "what is the first step to investing?" Many newcomers to the world of investments think only of stocks and shares but there are of course many more options out there. Some of which are possibly far better for beginners. (ii) The second thing you need to check is the amount that the bank needs you to deposit so that you can open the account. Different financial institutions have different limits here and hence you need to ask them personally or check their written brochures. (iii) Since these are savings accounts, you will need to keep some amount in the bank each month. You are also saved from the travel that you need to make up to your bank, which closes at a particular hour to add to the miseries. Online savings accounts are open 24/7, so you even if you want to make a transaction at 2 in the morning, you can very conveniently do it through your computer, your laptop or even your mobile phone. A quick dose of reality for some I'm sure but a very necessary one. That is because the truth is that even the most prudent investments carry a degree of risk with them. If you don't feel comfortable with the possibility of losing your money then it's more than likely that the stock market isn't for you.