Later that day, we reluctantly paddled back to our motor home, as the sun set behind us. We traveled through a canal with water so still that the reflections of the tree-lined banks seemed indistinguishable from their mirror images. We sighed as our visit to this tranquil world ended when we reached the boat landing. One might reasonably ask what any of this has to do with the Foolish Four or investing. Let's consider the swamp as a metaphor for the investment world, as we navigate through the seemingly endless complexities of the financial maze.
Potential hazards abound, enough to discourage the casual investor.
For instance, while returning home on the last leg of the trip, I picked up a copy of America's favorite daily paper, USA Today . The breadth of the market is declining. Many stocks are too high-priced. The specter of inflation is poised to rear its ugly head. Many would-be investors, like the recruits for our trip, are dissuaded by these potential hazards.