With the US stock market hitting new highs again and again, many people want to get in, but don’t know where to start. In fact, the question of how to buy US stocks is simpler than you might think. Today, I’ll share my experience with everyone.

First, it’s important to make one thing clear: there are two types of accounts for US stock trading. A cash account means you use your own money in a straightforward way, and you cannot borrow shares to short-sell—so it has the lowest risk. A margin account allows you to use leverage, short-sell, and do T+0 intraday trading, but this style of trading requires more capital, so beginners should avoid it.

When it comes to how to buy US stocks, there are actually quite a few options. The most direct way is to buy US stock spot trading, which is suitable for long-term investors. But if you think buying stocks directly is too risky, US stock ETFs are a good choice—by buying once, you can gain returns from a basket of stocks, such as funds that track the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq. Some people also like trading US stock options or CFDs; this approach is more flexible, allows two-way trading, but also comes with higher risks.

When choosing a broker, you should look at several key points: whether the platform is legitimate, how much the fees are, whether it’s convenient to deposit funds, and whether they support Chinese. If you’re in China, you can buy US stocks through cross-border entrusted trading, but the fees are usually in the range of 0.5%–1%, which is relatively expensive. If you want lower costs, you can go directly to overseas brokers—for example, Jiasheng, First Securities, and Interactive Brokers are all long-established choices.

The most common mistake beginners make is choosing the wrong stocks. My suggestion is to start with indices: the S&P 500 includes 500 large US companies, while the Nasdaq brings together tech giants. If you’re not familiar with the market, investing in these index funds is safer than blindly picking individual stocks.

As for your investment portfolio, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you have $30,000 to invest, you can allocate it like this: 40% to buy US technology company stocks, 40% to buy ETFs, and the remaining 20% to try CFDs. This way, you can participate in market growth while controlling risk.

Finally, a quick reminder: although the US stock market is the most mature market in the world, it’s not risk-free either. Leverage is a double-edged sword—if you don’t use it properly, you can end up losing a lot. It’s recommended that you start with a demo account to practice, get familiar with the trading process and risk management, and then use real money. Investment is a long-term matter—don’t rush to get rich overnight. Adjust your portfolio regularly, control risks, and time will give you returns.