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After 19 years covering the stock market for USA TODAY, Adam Shell gives his best advice on how to successfully invest in the market.

USA TODAY

Although I’ve written and edited stories about the stock market, I’ve never thought about being a player in it. To me, investing meant rich white men running around the NYSE floor yelling “buy…sell” for some unexplained reason. And until recently, my main financial goal, like that of many, was just staying afloat. 

But even as this year’s fears and challenges mounted  — the global pandemic, furloughs at my job, a big move — I was determined to establish a more robust rainy day fund and (if all went well) more income.

It was time to become an investor. 

The stock market, however, can be daunting, especially during volatile times. But behind complicated terms and a slew of changing numbers lies an opportunity for