An Insightful DD Post

[ham]

As an accountant, my investment advice is cash in the bank, real estate, and dividend paying stock.  The whole purpose of the investment business is to separate suckers from their cash and in my experience amateurs lose 9 times out of 10.  The professionals know what's going on, the amateurs do not.

Brokers are not your friend.  They only make money when you trade shares.  They keep inventing hot tips that never perform.  They will never tell you to hold on to a well performing stock, never.

I buy only 'safe'/insured investments from insurances, never banks.
It averaged 6% return in 2008...
Of course that was that 'Southeast Asian' stock fund that averaged +30% one year...and -90% the following...no thanks...I don't want to be there when the big guys push the red button.
Karl Marx never impressed me at all: he mostly recycled old stuff making it sound self-important, but the bit on the stock market should be compulsory reading.