[Zman]

Whatever portion you may decide to invest in stocks (and I would diversify across a number of asset classes) do not commit more than 5% to any one security and choose those that have consistently paid increasing dividends and paid down debts. Also use trailing stop losses (I use 25%) to limit the loss of capital in a down market. Safety is the watchword, in my view.

[Parmy]

Remember this! You can lose it one-helluva lot faster than it can be made. There is an old saying, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". Meaning that having a million is better than investing a million.

Will Rogers, the American humorist, in the depth of the Great Depression said that he was far more interested in maintaining his principle than any interest from a risky investment he might earn, or perhaps lose.