Does anyone trade stocks privately online with a brokerage like Scott Trade..etc. I have been doing it for a couple months now and have made some money, but I think its just luck on my part. I was looking for some advice. How do you start learning the trends and how to read the charts?

If your just starting out here are a few things I would look into.

First off i'd keep the website www.investopedia.com handy. It's gives a great overview of all types of trading.

I'd also look into a couple of those yellow "for Dummies" books. There's Investing for Dummies, Investing Online for Dummies and i know there is a stock trading one specifically but I can't remember it. (Just to be clear I'm not calling you a dummy, it's just the name of the books). They really help to break down complex topics and get a grasp on the overall picture.

Hope this helps to start

I have been trading stocks and funds since the early 80's and have done my share of line. In all honesty whether I made money or not I do not recommend it, it can easily lead to day trading which can be a road to bankruptcy. It's addictive just like going to the casino and I can tell you all you need to know about GA. Many years ago I went back to a full service broker, sure the commissions are high, but I found that last conversion with my broker set my mind more at ease whether to buy sell or hold or forget about it and just go fishing.

That being said many brokers are just order takers and their livelihood depends on those commissions, Same can be said about financial planners selling you an annuity.......... but a good one is money well spent.

In upward trends as we've been having studies have proven a chimp with a dart throwing at the wall street journal has made money.

People have gone to school then actively in the business for 10-20 -30 years or more and they aren't right 100% of the  time.

In all honesty whether I made money or not I do not recommend it, it can easily lead to day trading which can be a road to bankruptcy.

That's some good advice. I have never know a day trader who

has made money over time. Generally, they start with $50-$100k

and stop trading when it's all gone or after they put in an additional

10 or 20K!

8-)

What is "day trading"?

Buying a stock or other investment with the intent of selling the same day, regardless of profit or loss.

regardless of profit or loss.

Oh, that's why I've never heard of it before.  You see, where I come from we call that "PTS" (Pure T. Stupid).

You tube has a lot of good material (a lot of bad material too). Yahoo finance has a lot of fundamental information on companies. For charting go to bigcharts.com for free charts. I've found the best way to learn charts is to familiarize yourself with the terminology then look at lots and lots of charts. I'd also recommend some paper trading. It can't truly reflect risking your own money but it is useful for learning.

But really I'd recommend taking a class or joining a local trading/investment discussion group. I went the route of taking an intensive 6 month course at my university and it really really paid off even though I didn't  100% agree with my instructor's strategies. Just don't fall for the "magic system" or "gateway to profits" type stuff.

Strategies may differ but in the end it's all about discipline and having no ego. Invest only what you can afford to lose.