To open an account, go to a brokerage firm (like Schwab, Etrade, Scottrade; whoever) and get a form to open an account, or you could just download the form from the internet.

Fill out the form, and send it to the brokerage firm (or you can drop it off at the brokerage firm).

Wait for the firm to open an account for you, it won’t take long and they’ll send you the info when its open or you could call/ drop by their office.

Now start trading. You would typically trade by calling the firm and telling them what to buy/ sell, or doing it over the internet.

This is a very very general explanation, but there are about 100 details you will need to decide for yourself along the way. ie what kind of account; are you rolling an ira or something into the new account (the brokerage firm will handle this, you just fill out another form); do you want a full service broker (more expensive but gives you more advice on what to buy) discount broker (less expensive, some advice) or deep discount broker (cheap, but you are on your own in terms of what to buy); and many other details.

Of course the brokerage can help you with most of the details, but they can’t teach you how to choose which stocks to buy/ sell (and quite frankly the picks given by the full service brokers may not be any better than throwing darts at a newspaper); this part takes years of trial and error to figure out – so hey, get going. No time like the present to start.

Good luck.