After careful consideration, I have sadly concluded that it's challenging for the average investor to outperform the stock market by more than a small amount, with a few exceptions. The reason is that we are at an informational disadvantage compared to professional investors, who can afford to pay upwards of $100,000 per year for exclusive data that is not available to us.

However, there is one way that the average person can potentially do better than the market, and that is to buy during times of great fear. If I had purchased stocks during the market downturns of 2000-2001, 2008, and the COVID-19 crisis, I would have seen significant returns. The challenge is that it's challenging to invest when the world appears to be on the brink of collapse.

To overcome this challenge, I recommend developing a written plan that takes your risk tolerance into account and requires careful consideration. For instance, you could consider buying 2% of an index fund for every 10% drop in the market. However, my plan will be more sophisticated than that, customized to my unique risk profile and financial goals. I will take the time to research and develop a strategy that works for me. This will include setting clear investment objectives, establishing criteria for selecting stocks, and deciding when to buy and sell. By having a well-defined plan, I hope to be able to make rational investment decisions especially in uncertain times.