Ask your acquaintences for their last couple of years of 1099’s from E*Trade. If they balk, you’ll have your answer - they’re just blowing hot air. Lot’s of people claim to make lots of easy money trading stocks, few actually do since the bubble burst.
If you don’t know much about trading and don’t want to spend lots of time doing research, you’re better off buying mutual funds.
Ouch. Lot’s = lots