Newfag here Here's what I don't understand about stocks...

>>1349194
Historically the market has only ever "always gone up" over 20 year timespans.

Some people are not investing for 20+ years in the future, impatient, or scared of paper losses, so sell their index funds (shares of the whole market).

That often happens during bear markets and locks in their losses.

When dealing with individual shares (say, SUNE instead of VTI) companies die all the time, their shares going to 0 or whatever. Those are real losses and one reason it's best to stick with index funds if you have no idea what you're doing.

>>1349194
Patience kid. Nobody wants to wait years to see a nice return. In addition mits people are smart enough to understand that if the stock market isn't doing so well, there are various other investing markets to get into. So yea OP, it's good to invest, but don't think just because you put money into the stock market you'll make a return. Calculate all your movements, and if the stock
Market is looking shitty, just go to another market homie

My mum put 15% percent of each check she received into investments

Let's just say she's comfortable in retirement

Because it takes years to get back any sort of profits. It's not really worth it, it's pretty much assumed the money is lost if the market crashes. Which is a lot when you have about $100,000+ in the stock market.

>>1349194
Thats a great idea for a backup plan, newfgts should take note. But if you wanna ball, you gotta roll your own enterprise. Being a wagie won't get you far.