You've always been interested in the stock market. Recently, your grandfather gave you $1,000 to invest--any way you want! You are so excited that you can hardly contain yourself. Where should you invest first? Then, your grandpa gives you an important piece of advice--slow down andthink before you make any big decisions.

The stock market can seem like a big, bad place, and investing is a tricky business. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it--it just means you need to do your homework before jumping in and investing. Every successful investor realizes the importance of thorough research. You wouldn't choose a college without finding out important information about its academics, its social life, and its tuition costs, would you? And would you buy a car without checking its engine, its mileage, and its accident history? Certainly not! And you shouldn't put your money into any investment without getting all the facts, either. Some of the facts you'll need to learn come from researching the investment, and some of the facts come from taking a close look at yourself.