TRADING WITH STOCKS A Look at What We Call “The market” - I chose the S&P 500 Index, the most recognized representation of the U.S. Stock Market, and the first decade of the 21 st century to make a point about Investing in Stocks and your financial well-being. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) - 10 Years By Month 1/2000 to 12/2009 1-1-2000 Open 1469.25/12-31-2009 Close 1115.10 Change (354.15) - Percent (24.1%) The chart of the S&P 500 above shows the precarious nature of the “Market” and letting it determine your financial future, and, by extension, how dangerous “buy and hold” investing really is. The odds of picking the right stocks at the right time consistently are very low, and investing for the long-term would have seen negative returns in your portfolio over the above 10-year span. Can we really afford to let that happen? Read on about Trading with Stocks to find the Silver Lining in this scenario.