First Steps to Buying U.S. Stocks with Wallbit

In the fintech world we design products and services that make finance accessible. Apps must anticipate users’ needs, be easy to use, and meet industry security standards.

Users across Latin America have embraced the industry. Although financial app installs in the region grew 180% during 2024, many people still hold a reservation: the belief that you need a lot of money to invest, especially when it comes to U.S. stocks.

That may have been true once, but not anymore. With the Wallbit app you can invest in the U.S. starting from just $1 USD. So today we’ll show you how simple it is and how you can begin investing your money.

Disclaimer: Investing always involves risk. Before making any decision, make sure you understand what you’re investing in and what level of risk you can tolerate. Wallbit does not provide financial advice or investment recommendations. Each user is responsible for managing their own money and making their own decisions.

How do you invest in the market with little money?

The million-dollar question. Until a few years ago, hiring a broker and participating in financial markets only made sense if you had enough capital to justify the costs involved. That’s why the market can still seem distant and inaccessible to the average person without large sums to invest.

Today, however, investing with a small amount of money is a viable option for anyone, although many people still don’t fuzlly understand why: technology has democratized access to retail investing.

Technology has lowered the costs associated with asset management and simplified access through platforms, apps, and investment service providers. Fractional investing also lets you generate returns with whatever small amount you have available.

Therefore, you don’t need a large capital base to invest in classic market instruments: stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETF), bonds, derivatives, commodities, and more. With Wallbit’s investment account you can start for free: we offer more than 10,000 assets to choose from. It’s very easy —here’s how.

Step 1. Open your global and investment accounts

The first step is to have your dollar account ready — that’s the foundation for investing.

1. Download the Wallbit App. Find Wallbit in your app store (App Store or Google Play) and download it.
2. Sign up and verify. Follow the steps to activate your account. The process is quick and will give you access to a U.S. bank account in your name.
3. Enable the investment account. Once inside the app, go to the “Investments” section and select “Start investing.” This will link your global account to your investment account.
4. Choose your plan. To begin, you can stay on the Classic plan: there’s no opening or monthly fee.

If you want higher yields on your paid account (the balance you invest from inside the app) and lower transaction fees, you can upgrade to the Pro plan or the Max plan for more active investors.

Step 2. Move money into your paid account

With your account active, you need to transfer money from your main account into your paid account so you can invest: this is where you keep funds available until you invest them.

In the meantime, uninvested funds earn interest through the Alpaca FDIC Bank Sweep Program, offered by Alpaca Securities. So once you deposit funds into the paid account, your money will start working for you.

1. Deposit funds. If you don’t yet receive your paycheck or other income through Wallbit, deposit the money you want to use for investing. You can do this in several ways (local transfer, ACH/wire transfer, etc.).
2. Transfer to your paid account. Once the money is in your Wallbit global account, transfer what you want to invest (or save) to your paid account. This transfer is immediate and gives you liquidity to trade.

Step 3. Make your first purchase

Now you become an investor. As a beginner, you can start with an exchange-traded fund (ETF), since they are the easiest way to diversify.

1. Explore the catalog. Go to the Investments section and use the search tool.
2. Search for an ETF. An ETF is like a basket of many stocks. By buying a single ETF, you automatically invest in many companies at once.
   
   1. Example: Search for the ticker of an ETF that tracks the U.S. market (such as an S&P 500 tracker).
3. Do the basic research. Click the asset and read the description to understand what you’re buying. You don’t need to be an expert — just understand the fund’s primary objective (for example: “Invests in the 500 largest companies in the U.S.”).

Place the trade:

1. Select “Buy.”
2. Enter the dollar amount you want to invest (you can start with $1 USD!).
3. Confirm the order.

That’s it — congratulations, you’ve taken your first step as an investor.

Step 4. Discover other assets

Once you feel comfortable with ETF, you can explore other options:

1. Stocks. Buy a small fraction of your favorite companies (Apple, Google, etc.). With Wallbit, fractional shares let you buy a piece of a stock even if you don’t have enough to buy a full share.
2. Treasury securities. If you’re looking for very low risk, consider investing in U.S. government-issued Treasury securities.
3. Dividends. If you hold dividend-paying stocks or ETF, Wallbit will automatically credit those dividends to your balance. Dividends are a portion of a company’s profits paid to shareholders.

Remember that dividends are taxable. Consult a tax advisor about how to report them.

Practical tips for novice investors

Here are some practical tips you should know before you start investing.

These tips are aimed at helping you take your first steps with your Wallbit investment account. If you’re looking for personalized investment advice, consult a professional.

1. The balance you keep in your paid account (the money you haven’t yet used to buy stocks or an ETF) automatically earns daily interest in dollars without any action required on your part. It’s a good way to start earning returns right away.
2. Define how much risk you’re willing to accept: consider your income, job stability, and set an acceptable loss percentage as a limit (you can set this per asset with a stop-loss order). The key is knowing how much risk you can take without jeopardizing your peace of mind or finances.
3. Start small—don’t invest all your money at once, especially if you’ll need it in the short term. You can begin with $1, $10, or $50, but remember: the best way to learn is by doing.
4. Break your goals into short (1–2 years), medium (3–5 years), and long term (more than 5). Use these timeframes to set expected return horizons for each asset: liquidity for short-term goals, savings for medium-term goals, and growth for long-term goals. Review your goals periodically and adjust based on new information.
5. The market goes up and down—don’t panic at a small drop or celebrate a minor rise: some assets show short-term volatility but grow over the long term. The S&P 500 (SPY), for example, is a market index that typically delivers long-term returns.
6. If you’re just starting out, diversify your portfolio. ETF are a good way to begin because they reduce the risk of putting all your faith in a single asset. If one company performs poorly, the others in the fund can offset the loss. The idea is to reduce the impact of any single asset on your overall portfolio.

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Now you know enough to get started investing. Download the app and begin building your financial future with the simplicity and security Wallbit offers. You can start with $1 USD to try it out!

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