Investing 104: The Big Time

An account is now open in your name, you have the funds committed and they're just dying to make you money, it's now time to invest!
The first step is researching a bit, if you don't already have 20 hot stock tips from your parents, co-workers and CNN. I suggest due to the fact that your just starting to invest, to do something relatively risky, with risk comes reward! Of course with risk can also come failure and misery, but the good thing is you have little little invested at this point and can easily start again with many lessons learned about your unsavvy investing next time.
Now go to it! Look at financial stocks, bulk shipping, medical, anything that strikes your fancy. The most positive thing at this point is that the stock market is going up (the Dow Jones industrial was at 6500 at this time last year, now its closing in on 12000) you can see now is an amazing time to invest and with any luck it will become even better in the near future. Don't be left behind!