No. of Recommendations: 3
I lived through the 30% 1987 crash, 2 50% S&P crashes and the 70% Nasdaq100 crash, and didn't stop me.
It paid off big time. It enabled me to retire at age 40 when my workmates are still at it 29 years later.
You are right it isn't for the faint-hearted, but the data is clear, and if you want to make the most
money over the long run bonds, T-bills, and real estate are inferior to the stock market, and if you can pick stocks you can make multiples of an index fund. Most people Buffet says should just buy and index fund; but I do better than he did so I'm not going to. I view it as not gambling, but card-counting, and unlike in Vegas and Atlantic City card-counting is legal in the stock market.