Many people have lost money by buying stocks when the prices were high and selling them after prices fell. There is risk in the stock market. It is not a sure way of making money. Corporations sell new issues of stock on the New York Stock Exchange. If that accountant buys stocks before the report is made, she or he could buy the stock at a lower price than what other buyers will have to pay after the report is made public.
People can buy stocks on the Internet.
Many electronic methods exist that allow people to buy stocks without talking directly with a person. It allows people to make trades quickly and inexpensively. When the stock market goes up, it causes the economy to grow. The stock market is a very small part of the economy. It cannot cause the economy to grow or decline.