$2000 really isn't enough to "play the market". As the other comments have suggested there is too much stacked against you. If you really want to try your han

$2000 really isn't enough to "play the market". As the other comments have suggested there is too much stacked against you. If you really want to try your hand, I'd pick 1 moderately risky stock with a shot at long-term (5-7 years) surprise growth. There is a high probably your $2000 will become $200, but that probability exists almost universally. Personally, if I was going to bet a $2000 chunk, I would throw it at Ford stock today (F). This is based on the fact that I used to work there (FSIC), still know several people in the company, and have a belief that they have a solid long-term strategy. There is a high probability that they'll run out of money before they can fully enact that strategy, but if they do, that $2.50 stock will easily be $25 in 7 years. Or $0. That's the fun of trying to make money on individual stock trades :) In 5 years, you'll either have a decent chunk of money, or nothing. Neither outcome is life-changing anyway.