bottom line is their is no rocket science to investing. But one must be on top of things. I see many people who will research the latest pair of jeans and where to get the best deal, but then simply give their money to someone to look after because well they just don't have the time to do it....this is wrong and completely backwards. The only one who has your best interests at heart in regards to your money is you. Some money people I know chastized me (more than once) for going to all cash in July 2008. The market didn't look or feel right, so I got out. Then September came...then I was called lucky. Maybe. Maybe not. I could go on but I will add that reading is absolutely the best way to learn. Read read and read some more. Keep your finger on the pulse of the markets in general. The key is to find someone (or two..or...) who knows what they speak of....this is key since alot (most?) of what you can read is garbage....how does one weed through this? well, this is an individual decision.....read....then you must apply and try what you have learned. Trial and error. Any successful person I know did/does a large amount of reading. You can see quite clearly Gail does the same. I agree with you Cory. I believe that if you cannot afford to lose S you should not be in the market. Here in the US they