Placing your first trade

With the concepts in place, here is the practical path from "I want to invest" to actually owning a share.

Step by step

1. Open a brokerage account. Choose a regulated broker (in Brazil, one authorized by the CVM and B3; in the US, a regulated brokerage). You will provide identification and link a bank account.
2. Fund the account. Transfer money in. The cash sits in your brokerage balance, ready to invest.
3. Find the stock. Search the ticker — for example PETR4 on B3, or AAPL on Nasdaq. Confirm it is the right company and the right share class (remember ON vs PN).
4. Choose your order type. For a liquid blue chip a market order is fine; otherwise use a limit order at the price you want (see the Order Types chapter).
5. Set the quantity. Decide how many shares, keeping the total within an amount you are comfortable risking. Note B3 has a lote padrão (standard lot, usually 100 shares) and a separate fractional market (mercado fracionário, tickers ending in F, like PETR4F) where you can buy fewer than 100 shares.
6. Review and send. Check the price, quantity and estimated cost including brokerage fees, then confirm. Your order joins the book and fills when matched.
7. Confirm settlement. The position shows immediately; official settlement completes at D+2.

Sensible first-trade habits

• Start small — your first trade is for learning the mechanics, not for getting rich.
• Prefer liquid blue chips you understand.
• Know your costs before you buy.
• Decide your exit (target and stop) before, not after, you are in the trade.

The first trade always feels momentous; after a handful it becomes routine.