To hear the full-service firms talk discount brokerage firms don't provide their clients with any advice. Never mind the independent research reports the clients at many discount firms receive. Full-service firms spend barrels of money to employ economists and research analysts who produce forecasts and predictive reports on the market and the economy to provide their clients with a service. So that, in their minds, is the only way to go. Predicting the market is a lot like predicting the weather, though.
People go to school to learn how to do it.
They sit through a lot of advanced math classes and work out equations with funky symbols in them. They also learn about all of the different factors that affect supply and demand curves. And sometimes the models work out. At least most weathermen are giving an honest effort. A few people may every once in a while wish they could offer the weatherman a little cash to change the weather.