
Intro to Stock Investing (Wayne Thorp)
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VES Class Instructions and Resources
If this is your first VES Class, please review the content on this page as it contains essential information that you will need to know to navigate the VES Class to completion. Referenced videos and documents can be retrieved from the repository at the bottom of this page. If you have previously completed another VES Class then please proceed to the "Snapshot" tab to continue with the class.
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Quick Start Guide — 5 Things You Need to Know
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Class Tab Descriptions:
Snapshot: An overview of the class topic, focus, requirements and components.
Instructor: A biography and the contact information on the class instructor.
Materials: Education materials to be reviewed prior to, or with, the presentation video, to aid comprehension.
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Survey: Area for class participants to rate the instructor and the content of the class.
Discussion: Open forum area to post comments, ask questions or interact with other participants on the class content.
"?": Resources and contact information to obtain assistance for VES offerings, AAII membership and AI Tools.
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Additional Resources
- VES Class Welcome Video — welcome video that includes a broad overview of AAII's Video Education Series.
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- VES Class Video Icon Assistance Designations — quick reference for identifying the icons in the class videos.
- Discussion Forum Rules and Guidelines — rules and regulations for contributors to the discussion forum.
- Active Investing Workstation and AI Tools Overview — reference for AI Tool-based VES Classes only.
>> To continue with this VES Class, please proceed to the next tab labeled "Snapshot."
For technical issues, questions or concerns with this course please, contact the course administrator at ves@aaii.com.
Synopsis
In this VES Class, Wayne Thorp covers one of the most important investing-related topics: investing in stocks. Complete coverage on the basic elements of stock investing includes how and where to invest, capital gains, cash and stock dividends, valuations, how to accurately measure stock returns, shorting stocks, the types of risks associated with stock investments, stock structures and classes, common and preferred stock, dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs), initial public offerings (IPOs), American depositary receipts (ADRs), special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), stock splits and reverse splits, fractional shares, dollar-cost averaging, exchanges, benchmarks and stock indexes. This VES Class also includes two bonus videos on "How to Read Stock Quotes" and the "Efficient Market Hypothesis," along with numerous research articles from his extensive history of writing on this topic.
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Class Details
Organization: | AAII |
Presenter: | Wayne A. Thorp |
Title: | Intro to Stock Investing ..................................................... |
Duration: | 66 Minutes |
Credits: | 3 Credits |
Words of Wisdom: | Yes |
Segment Incentive Bonus: | Free Book: "AAII Investing Basics" |
Bonus Video: | "Reading Stock Quotes" |
Course Inclusion: | Structured & FlexiLearn |
Class Focus
Topic: | Stock Investing a...............................a |
Knowledge Level: | Beginner - Intermediate |
Appropriate: | Stock Investors |
Class Criteria
Credits Accrued: ............ | Passing Test Score (>= 68%) ..................................... |
Words of Wisdom: | Viewing Requirement (>= 90%) |
SIB Benefit: | Passing Test Score (>= 68%) |
Pre-Class | Post-Class Recommendations
Pre-Class Suggestions: ................................................................... | N/A.................................................. |
Class Associated Tools: | N/A |
Continuing Education Classes: | Fundamental Stock Screening | Introduction to Technical Analysis |
Associated AAII Offerings: | A+ Investor |
Additional Elements Included
- Class Discussion Forum
- Class Survey
- Key Terms & Definitions
- Learning Objectives
- Lesson Summary
- Preliminary Education Materials
- Presentation Slides (PDF)
- Resources Articles & Studies
- Speaker Bio/Contact Information
- Testing for Class Credits

Wayne A. Thorp
CFA, AAII Senior Financial Analyst
American Association of Individual Investors (AAII)
Wayne Thorp is the head of research and analysis products at AAII. He is also AAII's senior financial analyst and a vice president. Since joining AAII in 1997, Wayne has written extensively on fundamental stock analysis, quantitative stock screening and technical analysis. Thorp is also the lead analyst and editor for the Stock Superstars Report investment newsletter, product manager for AAII's A+ Investor investment discovery, analysis and tracking service, and product manager for Stock Investor Pro, AAII's fundamental stock screening and research database software. Wayne was born and raised in the "Thumb" of Michigan and is a 1997 honors graduate of DePaul University in Chicago Illinois. Thorp was awarded the right to use the Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2002.
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AAII Membership
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AAII’s Active Investing (AI) Tool Questions
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Active Investing (AI) Tool Platform Support
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This VES Class was created and produced by the American Association of Individual Investors
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