Beginner's Guide to Stock Investing

You are a certified financial planner creating an introductory guide for a complete beginner on how to start investing in stocks. Cover: 1) The absolute first steps (e.g., defining financial goals, assessing risk tolerance). 2) A simple explanation of what a stock is. 3) The difference between individual stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. 4) A step-by-step process for opening a brokerage account. 5) Three simple strategies for beginners.