I like the swap meet with big pick-pockets lurking analogy, LOL! My main rule was "If you can't pay attention, stay out of the markets." I lost interest and started traveling so I bailed from my more risky fun escapades and parked my money. That's been quite a number of years ago and, yeah, I've missed great opportunities, but also missed whoop-ass thrashings. I'm steady at home now and have some $k laying around doing nothing so I'm getting the urge to pay attention again. My only regret is I should have stacked up more silver when it was under $16. Hey, hindsight is always sharper than foresight.

Well, Rockefeller made his money when businesses could flourish. Then the bankers got involved.

I was helping a small startup. They handled Major Storm Flooding. Vehicle Salvaging, and setting up work trailers, bringing in energy and communications, equipment. Like a MASH setup for after big floods. AMAZING.

Then they go to the banks, because the way it works is they have to put up ALL of their expenses on the way in, and then get the checks from insurance/government after the fact.

So, they need a line of credit. And this is what 99% of Americans do NOT know...

The banks said "Okay, we will give you a $5 Million dollar Line of credit at 10%"... But, we get the OPTION to buy 20% of your company at PENNIES on the dollar or no deal.

Now, they were Options. But another term I can't remember right now. But they work like options with no cash value so they don't have to be claimed, and no expiration.

As I looked into this. I found this was VERY common place. And if they outgrow that line of credit, they'd have to offer up more of their company.

So, the banks end up collecting the interest. At the time 10% was outrageously HIGH... But it was considered unsecured.

The company refuses. They go under, and the bankers assigned someone to keep an eye on them, had someone else setup a similar business, buying them out for nothing...

So they win either way. And if you can afford the 10% fee... Then you are going to be a very profitable set of stocks... And they will likely take you public, and take even more of your company.

The business mafia bankers run/control everything!

I liken Day Trading (Trading Stocks) to buying/selling at swap meets. But with big players who pick your pockets while you are there... LOL.

Yeah, you can find some GREAT Deals. I've had 2-3 stellar trades (Citi/Travelers Merger, I was long citi Calls that were going to die under water, until the merger that weekend. Recovered my year for me. LOL. Pure luck).

It's more like gambling, TBH...

I avoid it now. Buy the indexes on big down days. you will have crushed 99% of fund managers! LOL. The indexes are RIGGED to go up. Because 493 of the 500 S&P Stocks are down to even. 7 of them make all of the progress...

You have to be extremely nimble when fooling around (yeah, speculating/gambling) with many small to medium business stocks because of the obvious manipulation going on - you can "see" it, but try to prove it! I made good money doing that years ago, but finally gave up because it was too intense and I had other things to do with my life. I suggest nobody do that unless you are willing to get a thrashing from time to time. In today's woke environment all bets are off.

And if you don't vote your stock when informed, they vote it and always to advance their own interests
(and their wealth) - which usually don't coincide with the increase of the share price which is your interest.
Ever wonder why most small public businesses fail due to lack of funding (from Wall St and the banking
cartel) and are then acquired by big public businesses?

Hmmmmm. Lawyers and politicians. Isn't that a redundancy in most cases? Shakespeare's got it covered, LOL. Now, for the bankers...

i think we need to add to Shakespeare's line about lawyers.... adding politicians and bankers