Anyone with money to invest can buy and sell stocks. Stock trading has its own specialized vocabulary but once you have the basics under your belt you can understand better how the market works. As with any investment, the more knowledge you have about stock trading the more successful you are likely to be.

Most stock trades are done through a broker – an intermediary who takes orders and executes them. Brokers can also offer advice about which stocks to trade and the condition of the market.
These 'full-service' brokers charge a relatively high commission. To cut costs, many people use discount brokers that charge significantly less. You don't get advice, but to some, that is an advantage