derivitaves are things like options (option to buy a stock etc. at price x at time y) or futures (buying 3000 bushels of wheat deliverable in 3 months) usually you can get alot more leverage so the profit potential is higher(as is the risks) If you want to spend time each day you can make alot of money in derivitives. if you only want to check once in a while choose a few good stocks that you think will go up and invest in those. theres less profit potential but also less time spent and less chance you will lose all your money( if you go into derivtaves without any clue what youre doing you will lose all your money)
