Investing basics

What is investing?

Investing is putting money into something today with the expectation that it will be worth more later. Instead of letting cash sit still, you use it to buy assets like stocks, bonds, or funds that can grow in value or pay you along the way. That growth isn't magic: a stock rises because the underlying business becomes more profitable, or other investors expect it will, and a bond pays you because you've effectively lent your money out at interest.