Looks like we "picked stocks" by picking the indexes here, too?
I just don't understand the insistence on indexes. We're afraid of picking stocks that go bankrupt?
We work in tech, and a lot of us are science nerds. Surely we can pick names based on how we think those technologies are likely to be successful. We have access to a lot more information than people did in the 1990's with this Boglehead stuff.
>Surely we can pick names based on how we think those technologies are likely to be successful.
Time and time again, especially now, "fundamentals" has proven to be a poor predictor, at least in the short term. You have companies with P/E ratios of 20-30 right now.
It's not just about the underlying product, perception and all kinds of human effects also matter, which makes it a perilous place to be.
Throw your money in a big bucket and over 20-30 years, you'll be up. That's the point.
I'm not that active trading, maybe I perform an action once every one to two weeks. I spend almost all my time just trying to absorb information.
Honestly, with all my questioning of index funds and contrarianism in comments above, I am slightly skeptical that the average person should have this much access to these types of tools. I could instantly blow away all my money and be left in debt (given they allow margin).