Investing is a way to set aside money while you are busy with life and have that money work for you so that you can fully reap the rewards of your labor in the future. Investing is a means to a happier ending. Legendary investor Warren Buffett defines investing as "…the process of laying out money now to receive more money in the future."1 The goal of investing is to put your money to work in one or more types of investment vehicles in the hopes of growing your money over time. Stocks are an equity investment that represents part ownership in a corporation and entitles you to part of that corporation's earnings and assets. Investing in stocks can be tricky business. In fact, it's best to treat all of your investment pursuits as a business. Heck, that's what Benjamin Graham (Warren Buffett's stock market mentor) recommended.Before you buy your first stock, you should master the basics of stock investing. This won't make you a great investor overnight, but only when you understand the fundamentals of investing can you learn how to invest in stocks with confidence.