There is no reason why individuals can’t beat the market.
The market consists of a large number of people buying and selling stocks. If you are smarter, wiser, and have better self control than most of them, you will be successful.
Warren Buffet is a good example of this.
I don’t disagree at all, but I sincerely believe listening to brokerage salesmen will not help your results.
Warren Buffet did not have to deal with HFTs and the rules (or lack of) that we do now. His buy and hold strategy would not serve him as well now as then. Different era - different results. If he was just starting out now, he’d be just another person floating along IMO.
The markets are primarily directed by Fund Managers who can stifle or propel a stock on a whim. The individual investor has to have his wits about him and be ready to act quickly or lose substantially.
Most of the trading is done by the pros. You have to be able to out-think them.