You seem a little frustrated. LOL! Don't mean to laugh but your post struck me as kind of funny.
And I tend to agree with you, as Wall Street personally scares me, and I don't have that much money to lose, and I don't like losing money to begin with.
Here's a tip that I don't broadcast much. Take it or leave it, but I am talking from some experience.
I invest in real-estate. *California* real-estate to be specific.
I personally buy mountain and high desert property, which is about 2 hours from LA and Orange county. Mostly mountain property.
Here's the deal.....
Desert and mountain homes of Southern California may level off or even drop slightly, but over time, it *always* goes up. Been that way for many, many years..It's a proven, time tested pattern..As people will continue to come to S. Cal, no matter what. This is a fact.
And the numbers and demographics expected for the next 10 years for LA/OC all say the same thing. More people, *lots* more.
And the more people that come, the more the wealthy and other hard working folks need a place to get away. Location, location, well you know the rest. You see it's *convenient*, only two hours away. No airports to mess with.
Busy people don't have a lot of time, AND it's *very* desirable to those that want to live there full time to be close to family and the kids/grandkids, as many have kids that continue working, in and around LA/OC area.
There are not only a lot of buyers with money, but another attractive aspect is the high deserts outside of LA/OC have pretty mild weather compared to places like Phoenix and Vegas, and the local mountains are fantastic, lakes, ski lifts, fresh air, *short mild winters* and only a short 2 hour drive to the jobs, grand kids and mega crowds. The mountains have mild, short winters due to the latitude and the influence of the great pacific, which is basically only 90 miles away. I'm talking 6700 feet, with *300* plus days of sunshine a year.
There will come a time some day, IMO, where only the wealthy or well off will be able to afford these areas near LA and Orange County. It's all about numbers of people, and available land and homes.
In my opinion, compared to wall street, it's completely safe and a very smart bet...And I sleep very well.
Just my two cents......