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Why now is the perfect time to learn stock market and crypto trading
Stock markets tumbling. The world economy on the brink. Tariffs, trade wars and turmoil. These are the words and phrases you’ve probably seen a lot in the news recently. While many headlines give the impression of disaster or impending doom, times like these come hand-in-hand with opportunity.
If you’re new to trading or investing, the financial world might be a little intimidating. Investing your money in things you have no control over doesn’t sound like a good deal. But the reality is different. With the right knowledge, strategies and community around you, you can use the financial markets to grow your wealth and achieve your financial ambitions. And now is a great time to start.
In this guide, we’ll explore why the markets have been in turmoil recently and why this makes it the perfect time to learn about stocks, crypto, trading and investing.
What's been happening in the financial markets?
The first thing to note is that the financial markets mirror what’s going on in the real world. Big global events often come with periods of uncertainty and turbulence, and these can cause the value of financial assets like stocks and shares to fluctuate.
It’s no secret that one man has been the subject of most headlines – Donald J. Trump. The beginning of his second term as US President has been controversial, as many people expected. He’s signed over one hundred executive orders and had a bizarre meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelensky, to give just two examples.
But his announcement of sweeping tariffs against countries around the world at the start of April 2025 sent shockwaves through the global markets. Significant import taxes fundamentally change the trade relationships on which the world economy is built. You can debate why the Trump administration announced these and why they quickly put them on hold, but their impact on the markets was and is still clear to see.
A closer look at the stock market
Trump’s announcement of “reciprocal tariffs” on the 2nd April 2025 was a catalyst for one of the biggest falls in US stock market values since the pandemic in 2020. The sheer scale and abruptness of the policies, including a baseline 10% tariff on nearly all imports, created significant investor uncertainty and lowered risk appetite.
All major indices, including the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ, experienced sharp declines. The S&P 500 – an index that tracks the stock values of the 500 biggest companies in the US – saw more than 10% of its value wiped out in the space of three days. This drop is almost as steep as the one seen during the 2008 financial crisis, to give some valuable context.
Days later, the value of the US dollar dropped to a three-year low because of the uncertainty around Trump, tariffs and trade wars. But it wasn’t just the US that suffered. The UK’s FTSE 100 index suffered its biggest one-day drop since the pandemic, just like the US. Markets across Europe and Asia also saw declines.
Bitcoin lost four percent of its value in the days after the announcement, as shockwaves from major stock markets across the globe hit the crypto world. It’s fair to say these events wreaked havoc far and wide.
What does this all mean for me?
We know that’s a lot of information to take in, especially if you’re only just starting to learn about stocks and investing. Don’t worry if you didn’t understand everything.
There’s one key point to take away: uncertainty causes market volatility. And fluctuating markets are where the biggest opportunities lie. Who knows what Trump will do next or what else might happen in the world – you just need to know how to capitalise on it.
Why is now a good time to learn about stock market trading and crypto?
There’s a lot going on in the world right now, but this is good if you’re looking to make money. Rises and falls in markets linked to global events, whether it’s stocks and shares or cryptocurrency, are great opportunities to trade and invest. In a bull (rising) market, buying low and selling high is a tried and trusted approach. In a bear (falling) market, strategies like short selling can help you turn a profit.
As we touched on above, some of the major stock market indexes like the NASDAQ Composite and S&P 500, which track the performance of groups of stocks, have taken big hits in the last few weeks and months. More recent developments surrounding Trump and his economic policies have seen stock markets bounce back. This is a great example of how financial markets generally recover, and how you can make money by trading and investing at the right times.
So, can you only make money while markets are trending up or down? Absolutely not. Marcus de Maria, the founder of Investment Mastery, is the brilliant mind behind “The Buffalo Strategy“. In markets going “sideways” – where there’s no sustained upward or downward trend – this approach helps you capitalise on the smaller peaks and troughs that some investors may ignore. You can use it to make money from three market movements: up, down and sideways. What better time to start growing your wealth than right now?
Should I learn stock market or crypto trading?
While there is money to be made down both avenues, it’s best to start with either stocks and shares or crypto if you’re new to trading and investing. Both options have risks and rewards, so you should consider how each fits with your financial goals, risk tolerance and timeline.
Stocks and shares
Investing in and trading stocks essentially means buying and selling shares in companies. The value of a certain stock is tied to the performance of the company and the wider economy. Sometimes, investor confidence and speculation can cause market swings, too, even if nothing actually happens.
The stock markets are heavily regulated and have a long, established history of growth. Famous investors like Warren Buffett have built their fortunes on it. It’s this stability and long-term growth that makes the stock market ideal for building your wealth over time.
There are risks, of course, and certainly investment approaches with the potential for higher returns, as we’ll explore next. But learning how to trade stocks and invest in these markets is generally a more reliable way to grow your money over time.
Crypto
Cryptocurrency, or ‘crypto’ as it’s widely known, is an umbrella term for different digital currencies that rely on simple supply and demand to set values. They don’t have the same storied history as the stock market, but the concept is growing in stature around the world. Banks, governments and financial institutions are all taking them more seriously.
Crypto first emerged in 2009 with the founding of Bitcoin. Today, there are many different digital currencies, but Bitcoin is still the most valuable. A decentralised approach means they don’t have any regulatory framework overseen by an authority body. Rather than official stock exchanges, open-ended blockchain networks are used to facilitate trades, with all records visible to everyone. Transparency is one of the biggest reasons why investing in crypto has taken off.
Another reason why so many people are trying to learn crypto trading is because of the potential returns. It’s a high-growth yet volatile market, with opportunities to make big returns balanced by the risk of heavy losses. But the right strategies can help you make money consistently.
Which is better for me?
There are risks and rewards in both the stock and crypto markets. If you’re less tolerant of risk, the stock market may offer you more predictability and steady returns in the long run. If you don’t mind the added risk, crypto trading could see you make more money sooner.
Either way, there’s never any guarantee that you’ll make money. You are ultimately putting your funds at risk by investing or trading. But learning about stocks and investing, and what strategies are successful, gives you a better chance of growing your wealth.
That’s where the experts at Investment Mastery can help.
Where can I learn how to trade stocks and crypto?
You might think learning how to invest in the stock market or trade crypto takes a significant amount of time. That would be the case if you did it all yourself. But Investment Mastery is here to help you educate yourself with accessible, practical investment training you can fit around your busy daily schedule.
To start, our Stock Market and Cryptocurrency Masterclass events are completely free to join. They give you a taste of what we can offer, including live trading demonstrations and expert-led insights from our founder, Marcus de Maria. If mastering the markets is a priority for you, you can get our VIP upgrade and sign up for a premium membership to gain access to our comprehensive trading and investment courses.
With just 20 minutes a day, we aim to help you achieve 3-6% monthly returns consistently. You’ll have the Investment Mastery community for support, our team of coaches for guidance and simple, proven strategies to use throughout your journey. The Buffalo Strategy has worked for thousands of people, and it can work for you.
Keen to get started today? Download our free resources. The Lunchtime Trader gives you three simple, proven, low-risk stock investing strategies. The Lunchtime Investor explores how you can grow your wealth with low-risk crypto investing. Both are written by our founder, Marcus de Maria.
Take your wealth into your own hands
If you’re interested in growing your wealth, choose to learn about stock or crypto trading and register for one of our free online investment training events. Join from the comfort of your home, engage with a community of like-minded people and take charge of your financial future.
Take the first step towards becoming a profitable, independent investor today. 88% of our clients do!
