When I visited the stock market earlier this year, it was exactly like what you see on TV. Huge screens filled with acronyms, people – mostly men – running around in those little vests. This was a whole new language that I didn’t speak and I was intimidated. To be frank, I wasn’t sure I was smart enough.

When I thought of investing, it conjured up images of men in a dark wood-paneled room, wearing expensive suits, talking about their portfolios over whiskey and maybe a cigar. My friends and I had just started getting comfortable talking about our salaries; stocks were never discussed. But money isn’t just about what you get paid, it’s about building wealth.

To me, investing seemed dangerous, risky. You had to be ready to lose money if you wanted to make money (graduating into a recession didn’t help.) But then I started to learn that despite all its fluctuations, over time, the market has always come back. It’s about the long game and if you can be patient, you can play it.

I realized that the only thing holding me back was me.

Enter Public.com, a social investing app that makes it possible to invest in fractional shares of publicly-traded companies and learn within a community of investors. Katie Perry, the VP of Marketing, taught a class at our conference this fall, and it was one of the best-attended sessions.

While there are lots to love about the app, here are two of my favorite things:

1. Search by themes (women-led, sustainability, health, and wellness, etc)

2. Community. See what other people are investing in and follow conversations; it’s a good way to educate yourself and stay on top of trends.

Speaking of community, there’s even a Ladies Get Paid group! It’s a great way to connect with other women who also want to make money and aren’t afraid to say so.

How do you get started? First off, we have free money for you.

Just download the app (it’s free) from this special link and you’ll start with a free $10 slice of stock to invest in companies like Peloton, Zoom, and more. That’s right, we’re literally giving you free money to invest. Once you make an account, follow me @clairegetspaid so we can learn together.

Remember, if you don’t invest, you’re losing money in the long term. Why let men have all the power? We’re Ladies Get Paid!

Now go get paid.

x Claire

*Offer valid for new accounts, U.S. residents 18+ and subject to account approval. See Public.com/disclosures/.

This offer is presented as part of a paid partnership with Public.com.