​5 common investing myths — debunked: Why you don’t need thousands to own stocks 

5 common investing myths — debunked (Ariel Skelley via Getty Images)Various common myths about investing continue to keep people on the stock market’s sidelines. You’ve probably heard that investing is just like gambling or thought you need a few thousand dollars to begin investing. These and other persistent myths prevent many people from benefiting from the stock market and growing their wealth.However, the reality is that modern investment platforms have made the market more accessible than ever, while research consistently shows that long-term investing has historically rewarded patient investors. Even the idea that you need significant money to start investing has been rendered obsolete by fractional shares and commission-free trading.While all investments carry risk and don’t guarantee returns, one of the keys to a successful long-term strategy is to separate facts from fiction and avoid emotional reactions. Let’s examine five of the most common investing myths and uncover the facts behind them.In this article:Myth #1: “You need a lot of money to start investing”Myth #2: “You need years of experience before starting to invest”Myth #3: “Investing is just gambling with extra steps”Myth #4: “Cash is safer than stocks”Myth #5: “High risk means high rewards”How to choose an investment platform that fits your needs?Gone are the days when investing required thousands of dollars to get started. Modern investment platforms have dramatically lowered the barriers to entry, making it possible to begin building wealth with just a few dollars.”There is a common misconception that investing is only for rich people, either because financial institutions will refuse service to people in one’s income bracket or because of a perceived fee for entry. The most popular retail brokerages offer no-fee, fractional share investing for as low as $1 invested,” explains Thomas Maluck, an NFEC-accredited personal finance instructor in Columbia, South Carolina.Even traditional brokers have eliminated fees and trading commissions on stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), making investing more accessible than ever. Plus, most investing platforms now offer fractional shares, allowing you to buy a portion of a stock rather than the whole thing. For example, instead of needing $230 for one share of Apple (AAPL) stock, you could invest $10 and own about 4.3% of a share.🔍 What are ETFs? An ETF is a basket of stocks and other assets that you can buy all at once. When you purchase an ETF share, you’re actually buying tiny pieces of hundreds or thousands of companies. For example, an S&P 500 ETF lets you own a slice of America’s 500 largest companies with a single purchase. Mutual funds work similarly but are typically more actively managed and may require higher minimum investments.This combination of commission-free trading, fractional shares and diversified funds has revolutionized investing for everyday people. Here’s what you can expect to pay and how much you’ll