How to Start
Good news: buying any of Strategy's products is no different than buying Apple or Tesla stock. You don't need a special account, a crypto wallet, or anything exotic. If you can buy stocks, you can do this.
Step 1: Open a Brokerage Account
Any major US brokerage works. All of these products trade on the Nasdaq under their ticker symbols — just like any stock you've ever bought.
🟢 Fidelity
Great for long-term investors. Excellent customer service, no frills, no gamification. Pete's personal choice for long-term holdings.
Visit Fidelity →🔵 Charles Schwab
Similar to Fidelity — solid all-around, great research tools, excellent for IRAs and retirement accounts.
Visit Schwab →⚡ Interactive Brokers
Best for active traders. Lowest margin rates if you ever want to borrow. More complex interface but powerful.
Visit IBKR →📱 Robinhood
Simple app, great for beginners, but limited research tools. Fine for getting started. Upgrade later if you get serious.
Visit Robinhood →If you already have a brokerage account — you're done with this step. All of these products are available at every major US brokerage.
Step 2: Search the Ticker
In your brokerage's search bar, type in the ticker exactly as shown below. These are the Nasdaq-listed symbols.
| Product | Ticker | Type | Approx. Price* | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MicroStrategy Common Stock | MSTR | Common | ~$320 | Maximum growth |
| Strategy Senior Preferred | STRF | Preferred | ~$106 | Safety + income |
| Strategy Convertible Preferred | STRK | Preferred | ~$88 | Income + optionality |
| Strategy Savings Preferred | STRC | Preferred | ~$98 | Liquidity + monthly income |
| Strategy High Yield Preferred | STRD | Preferred | ~$67 | Highest yield |
| YieldMax MSTR Option Income ETF | MSTY | ETF | ~$22 | Max monthly income |
| Bitwise MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF | IMST | ETF | ~$14 | MSTY alternative / tax harvesting |
* Prices approximate as of early February 2026. Verify before buying.
Step 3: Decide How Much to Invest
There's no minimum beyond the price of one share. STRC trades near $100, STRD near $67 — so you can start small and add over time. Most brokerages also offer fractional shares, so you could start with as little as $10.
If you're starting with $500/month and don't know where to begin, here's a simple starting point: put $150 in STRC (stability), $200 in STRD (highest yield), $100 in STRK (income + optionality), and $50 in MSTR (lottery ticket). Adjust as you learn and get comfortable.
For many people, a diversified mix across the preferred stocks makes more sense than going all-in on one. The products are designed to complement each other — STRC for stability, STRD for yield, STRK for optionality, STRF for safety.
Step 4: Choose the Right Account Type
✅ Taxable Brokerage — Best for Preferreds
The return-of-capital tax treatment is most powerful in a regular taxable account. Years of dividend income, deferred. In an IRA, that benefit is largely wasted since the account is already tax-advantaged.
→ STRC, STRD, STRK, STRF: put these here
📋 Roth IRA — Best for MSTR
If you're a long-term MSTR growth investor, a Roth IRA is ideal. Capital gains grow tax-free, and you never owe taxes on qualified withdrawals. MSTR's volatility could produce enormous gains over a decade — shelter that growth in a Roth.
→ MSTR: consider the Roth
When in doubt, talk to your CPA. This is general education — your situation may be different.
A Note on Timing
I'm not going to tell you to "wait for a dip" or try to time the market. Nobody is good at that, including me. The case for these products is a multi-year thesis. If you believe the thesis, start a position and add to it over time.
Dollar cost averaging — buying the same dollar amount on a regular schedule regardless of price — is a simple, proven approach. Set a calendar reminder. Buy every first Monday of the month. Don't watch the price every day. Let it compound.
Your Getting Started Checklist
Have Questions?
If you've read everything here and still have questions — or if you think I got something wrong — reach out. I'm always happy to have the conversation.
Email Pete →