This is general information about how public markets work. It is not personal financial advice, a recommendation to buy or sell anything, or a promise of results.
What this path is
Investing means buying a share of a company or a fund and holding it while the business, and the price people will pay for it, change. Trading means buying and selling more often, trying to profit from those price changes. Neither one pays you on a schedule. Some companies pay dividends. Many do not. You can also lose money, including money you needed for something else.
Who it suits
This path suits someone who can leave the money invested and who will not need it next month. It does not suit someone looking for a wage. A job or a service business produces income. A brokerage account produces a changing balance.
What it takes to start
You need a regulated brokerage account, money you can invest, and a written rule for what you will buy and when you will sell. Beginners usually start with a broad fund rather than a single company, because one company can fail even when the wider market does not. You also need to know the tax rules where you live before you trade often.
Risks
Prices fall. A stock that looks cheap can get cheaper. Frequent trading adds costs and taxes. Anyone selling a system that claims steady weekly profits is selling the system, not the result. If you cannot explain what you own and why, you are guessing.
Go deeper
The starter guide for this channel is How to research a stock without a tip service.
Questions
Is trading a job?
It can become a job for a small number of people who treat it as a business with records, risk limits, and enough capital. For almost everyone else it is an investment account, not a salary.
Do I need a lot of money?
You can open many accounts with a small amount. The amount does not remove the risk. Money you need for rent does not belong in a trade.
What should I read first?
Read the brokerage explanation of the product you are buying, and the annual report or fund page that says what you actually own.