PROVO -- Not everyone has extra pocket change to plug into the stock market. But that does not mean they can't practice trading and selling.
Just take a look at Greg Peterson's Web site. It's a a no-risk introduction to Wall Street.Peterson, a registered investment consultant, created a stock-market simulation on the Net that gives players $1 million in fake money to "invest" in real companies. Players who earn the most can win prizes.
www.smartstocks.com helps participants learn how the stock market works, says the 25-year-old Peterson.
"It's like a flight simulator to an airline pilot," he says.
His own simulation, posted on his Web site, started last year in February and gained 247.7 percent as of last month.
His recommendation for the stock market?
Buy and sell without emotion. Use research. Look at the facts. Take professional advice.
"The stock market," he says, "is not a casino."