Venture capital firms help with the transition of a company just starting out to becoming a public company. A venture capital firm provides funding for a company so they can further develop its products or expand their operations. VC funding comes in the form of establishing part ownership in a private company. Since these investments tend to be risky, venture capital firms are looking for high returns.

Venture capital firms tend to take an active role in the companies they invest in. To increase the company’s chance of success, they will use their resources to guide the company to higher sales and operational competitiveness. The venture capital firm’s assistance can come in the form of advice, business contacts or staffing.

Online trading is quick and easy, online investing takes time

With a click of mouse, you can buy and sell stocks from more than 100 online brokers offering executions as low as $5 per transaction. Although online trading saves investors time and money, it does not take the homework out of making investment decisions.

Set your price limits on fast-moving stocks: market orders vs. limit orders

To avoid buying or selling a stock at a price higher or lower than you wanted, you need to place a limit order rather than a market order. A limit order is an order to buy or sell a security at a specific price.

Online trading is not always instantaneous

Investors may find that technological "choke points" can slow or prevent their orders from reaching an online firm.

Know your options for placing a trade if you are unable to access your account online

Most online trading firms offer alternatives for placing trades. These alternatives may include touch-tone telephone trades, faxing your order, or doing it the low-tech way--talking to a broker over the phone.

Don't buy that house -- yet
You've fallen in love for the first time. Your instincts tell you to follow your heart, make a commitment. But would that be wise? After all, it does cost $400,000.

Shrugging off oil prices
Stocks managed a late-session rally Thursday, on a mix of strength in energy and commodity stocks, falling Treasury yields and some old-fashioned short-covering.

Stealing your neighbor's Net
Forty bucks for high-speed Internet access? Not a bad deal. But how does free sound? To a growing number of Internet piggy-backers, it's the sweet sound of pirating their neighbor's wireless network. Most new computers are equipped for wireless Internet access, and more and more people are...