(06-08-2020, 06:09 PM)StroudCrowd1 Wrote:

(06-08-2020, 06:03 PM)jagibelieve Wrote: The thing is you didn't buy it and don't hold it... unless it's in your 401k somehow.

Meanwhile I managed to pick some shares up of Boeing when it was down to around $130 (actually got some higher than that at $163 or so earlier).  It closed today at $230.50 per share.  I did sell some off on the climb up (500 shares), but after fees I made pretty much slightly less than 1/4 of my annual salary.  I still hold several shares with a cost basis of around $145 per share.

The difference is, my shares of Boeing are probably going to climb higher over the long term.  Carnival stock... not so much.  Boeing stock will pay a dividend.  Carnival stock... not so much.

There is a difference between investing and gambling.

Investing is gambling no matter which way you cut it.

Depends on how prepared you are.  I completely agree, if you don't know what you're investing in... you shouldn't.  If you want no risk, then no... do not invest.

At the same time, that decision also guaranteed no reward.

There are "safe" investments that follow the indices.  Your returns will rise and fall with the market.  In the long run, this is about as safe as it gets.  If you don't have long before retirement and are completely risk averse, then yes... that's a valid reason for not risking your money.

Higher the risk, higher the reward.  There are funds that consistently beat the indexes.  If you are no risk, don't invest in the market.  If you are low risk, invest in an index fund that mirrors the markets.  If you are medium or moderate risk, invest in an index fund that historically beats the indices.  If you want bigger rewards, you will have to accept higher risk and try 2x/3x leveraged index funds and inverse leveraged funds.

Caveat - don't do any of it if you don't understand what you're getting into.

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