I am a teen and i want to learn how to invest and how to become financially smart?

How I regret I didnâ€™t have the foresight to ask this question - or one similar to it - when I was your age. By not asking this question, this is one of the few regrets I have in my life. I admire you for asking it! Thank you - not only for yourself, but for all the wonderful young people who will ask this question after you. I commend you for asking it!

I would like to ask a favor of you: Will you please print-out your question AND my answer and show it to your parents, guardians, relatives, teachers and every other person who is important to you at this stage of your life? In advance, I thank you very, very much!

To the parents and every other person who helped bring this young person to this time in his/her life, I would like to ask a favor of you: Would each and every one of you Please, Please, Please not let this young person - or any person expressing an interest in learning about money, finance and how it/they works - fall by the wayside? In advance, I thank you very, very much!

You can do research on the web about those items you mentioned in your statement following your question. Those are definitions you can find on various web sites. One of my favorites is investopedia.com - its free and it explains financial terms in plain, every day English. Perhaps you could ask your parents. teachers or the other folks important in your life for other financial sites.

To accomplish this major goal of your life, what you need to start looking into: Learning HOW the various items you ask about work AND LEARNING HOW YOU can earn money by investing in them, holding on to them for a certain period of time, selling them at a profit, taking those profits, re-investing those profits and doing the same thing over and over and over and over - again and again and again.

Not long ago I had a conversation with my Dad [â€œTHE Old Manâ€ as my three younger brothers and I affectionately refer to him] is 86 years young & STILL works almost every day - NOT because he has to, BUT because he WANTS to. He LOVES his work [working with young people, helping them become successful in many aspects of the real estate business AND so do his sons with the work and careers each aspired to.

Through one of the software programs we have and use on a daily basis, Iâ€™m currently taking trading and investment courses. I JUST returned from one of the 3-day seminars, Dad asked, â€œWell, Ronald E. are you learning anything?â€
My reply was like a lightning bolt or an epiphany to him, my bother and sister-in-law: â€œDad, I learned A LOT - I ALWAYS learn a lot. BUT, its one thing to learn AND its quite another to learn AND to properly do the things I was taught.â€

How do most people learn?
1] By being properly taught.
Old saying #1: "The only stupid question is the question you don't ask."
Don't settle for "fluff" answers or "smoke and mirrors" answers.
Will some folks think you're a pain in the neck [and another place]? Absolutely.
DON'T be afraid to ask questions - and continue asking questions until you get understandable answers to your questions and to your satisfaction. This requires persistence and tenacity.
2] By watching how others do or donâ€˜t do things.
3] By reading how others should, could or may do or donâ€˜t do things.
4] In terms of time and money: this is probably THE MOST COSTLY: By trial and error.
Old saying #2: "So, you thought --- and think --- education is expensive? Just wait until you try ignorance."

As time goes on, Iâ€˜ll look for other questions from you, members of your family, friends, teachers and others who â€œtake you under their wingâ€ to guide and lead you to your goals. Iâ€˜ll do my very best to honestly answer them.

Thank you very, very much for asking your question. I enjoyed taking the time to answer your question. Your question is very, very important. You did a great job - not only for your information, but for every other person interested in reading my answer.

Our family saying is, â€œEvery Good Wish to You and Yours!â€ I wish you, your family, your friends, your teachers and every one else important to you - absolutely nothing but the absolute best of everything this wonderful country of ours and life has to offer!

Very Truly Yours,
Ronald [â€œRonâ€] E. Berue

P.S. I just read some of the other answers. YOU were provided with many, many great ideas from wonderful people.

PLEASE take advantage of the suggestions and ideas each one gave you!

I'm sure you'll get many, many more. PLEASE let your question remain active for the full 3 days - or however long they will let your question stay active on the site.

THEN print out ALL the answers and go through them one-by-one with your parent[s], guardian[s], teachers and all those other folks who are important to and in your life.

I, for one, AM VERY, VERY EXCITED about the many investment possibilities you will be exposed to.