[suited42]

Regarding an earlier post comparing poker and stock investing. Poker and "playing" the stock market are not that different. In fact, in both poker and stocks there is tremendous variance in the short-term but results are predictable in the long run. The market has averaged steady positive returns over the last several decades. As such, a long term investor with a time horizon of at least 5-10 years would have most likely made a strong profit. However, the day to day value of the stock or stock index would have been quite unpredictable. Up one day, down the next.... No matter how solid the poker player, they will experience quite a bit of profit/loss variance day to day; much like the day-to-day swings seen by an individual stock. However, over the long run a good company and solid poker player will yield profits. Both are gambling. Having reasonable certainty that the investment will yield a positive return in the long run or that you are a winning poker player does not change that fact.