Investing in stocks now is much different than it was six months ago. Wall Street is facing new challenges, and the effects of stimulus are beginning to take their toll. Government payouts have resulted in higher inflation than the Fed can tolerate. This is a great time to buy a stock before it starts to plummet. Here are five tips to help you decide which stocks to buy on public today. And don’t worry if you’re not a professional investor – it’s possible to make money by doing so.

First, open a brokerage account. You can set one up online in 15 minutes. Then, you can fund it with money and start investing in individual companies. Among the many options available to you, the easiest way to buy a stock is to use an online stockbroker. These websites allow you to buy stocks quickly and conveniently. Full-service stockbrokers are also available. You can even purchase shares directly from a company’s website.

IPOs are a good place to find hot growth stocks. Newly-public companies tend to make a splash, with high expectations and price tags. However, not every IPO stock is a winner. While this is true for many stocks, early investors have made millions on these companies. You can’t predict which one will be the next Facebook or Uber, but you can find a great deal of value in the companies listed on these IPOs.

Another good way to pick a stock is to read the company’s annual reports. Generally, public companies are required to release annual reports detailing financial performance and the bottom line. They also publish quarterly reports. These reports give you information about the company’s operations, including financials and other details that are pertinent to investors. Then, you can invest in a company and wait for the stock to rise. That way, you’ll have your money working for you and the market will reward you.

If you’re just starting out, it’s best to choose blue-chip stocks first. These stocks are safe and have a good track record, and they’re often a good place to invest for beginners. A new investor can buy Alphabet and watch it grow. It has more than doubled in the last three years. You can’t go wrong with Alphabet. You’ll be glad you did.

Another option is to sign up with an investment platform like Public. The app offers free stocks slices from nine companies, and lets you buy fractions or whole shares. For example, Public allows you to try out nine companies for free and cash out after 90 days. If you don’t like the idea of being a professional investor, Public also has a reinvestment option, allowing you to reinvest any gains you make into other stocks.