Subject: Re: What constitutes success?
I take into account that most people do horribly in the market. They buy at the top, sell at the bottom, etc. Therefore, success has two components.

1. 90% or more of the return of a 70-30 portfolio.
2. The process of doing it, has been enjoyable.

I have not calculated my exact results, but I like to think I have done about 1% better than the market with my stocks, and much better with my fixed income, since I use preferred stocks and closed end bond funds for income. It's much easier to beat the Barclay's aggregate bond market than it is to beat the S and P.