General investing questions, newbie queries and thoughts megathread

Due to the huge influx of really random threads asking simple questions that have already been asked/answered many times, I've decided to start a new megathread where people can ask any questions they wish pertaining to investing or whatever.

This is the place to come if you need to understand a definition, understand a concept, if you want to know more about a financial topic, or if you're generally clueless and want to know where to start educating yourself on investing.

DO post here:

- Questions about definitions and financial terms (please google first though!)
- Questions about investment vehicles you don't understand
- If you're looking for simple advice that should only take a line or two to answer
- If you just need a one line reply to an idea you have
- Any random thoughts you have that don't deserve a thread
- If you're going to ask 'what do you think XYZ will move in price over the next few months?'. These don't deserve your own thread to just have 8 people post 'lol' with no real content.

DON'T post here:

- News articles. We can still keep them in separate threads. An exception is if you want a clarification on what an article means.
- If you want specific advice on a more complex situation. for example, if you're trying to determine your own best way to spread your finances between shares, housing, and your IRA account, also listing your debt, income, and plans for the next 10 years. These more complex questions can still have their own thread. Rule of thumb: if the advice you need takes more than 3 lines to answer and probably needs follow up questions, it can have its own thread. If it takes less than that, post it here.
- Stuff on gold or anything about how the US dollar is going to collapse. We have a thread for that! Remember the stick rules apply here!
- Anything that requires depth. We still want good quality threads in BFI. Rule of thumb: if you have more than 500 posts in BFI alone, your questions/ideas are probably complex enough to have their own thread. Remember, you can still post stuff here, and if its deserving of its own topic, we'll let you know and you can go ahead and post it! (eg of depth, forex trading, law changes clarification, different speculative investment ideas, business advice etc) .

Enjoy! 🙂