I would recommend doing your homework thoroughly on whatever you decide to invest in. Make sure you ask questions, look at reports, etc before you decide completely. Remember investing is really a waiting game. Your profits will not be coming in overnight, they take years. I've invested in a few companies around my area, and I'm still waiting on a good return. But I agree with the guy who posted above, I would go see a trained professional if you're really serious, and are willing to dump a lump sum of cash into an investment. Because you're really taking a risk as well. So make sure you are prepared to lose that cash.