DUmmy queries: Why is the stock market so important?

[Ralph Wiggum]

AllaN01Bear (10,774 posts)

why is the stock market so important?

First, a few intelligent replies:

Star Member Walleye (21,117 posts)

1. Important to me because I put my retirement money in an investment account

At the time interest rate was zero there was no point in putting the money in the bank

MichMan (8,398 posts)

2. Because millions & millions of ordinary people have their retirement savings invested in it ?

Not just the rich

Star Member onenote (38,934 posts)

3. Because more than 140 million americans own stock?

While the percentage of Americans owning stock has declined, it is still over half of all adults.

And now, for the reason we call them DUmmies:

Star Member Faux pas (13,311 posts)

4. ...

Too me it's a scam. But that's just me.

And the "dazzling young Brooklynite" (Frank's term):

Star Member brooklynite (84,170 posts)

6. How is it "a scam"?

Companies use the market to raise capital for development and expansion.

Do you imagine that the computer/smartphone you're posting on would have been developed without the company raising funds for the project?

Star Member Scrivener7 (46,163 posts)

9. But it would be silly to ignore the fact that electronic trading has created a

completely uneven playing field where the small investor at an extreme disadvantage compared to the big players.

For example, I can't afford to do high frequency trading, so those who can afford it can always front run ahead of me and every other small investor.

And those large players are the ones who have the access to the microphones where they can insist they hold no intrinsic advantage over the rest of us.

So, yeah, it's quite scammy, but it's what is available.

LT Barclay (2,366 posts)

13. I'm not an economist but I think it would be better if

It was a bond market requiring them to be held for a certain amount of time rather than allowing the trading that inflates bad companies and destroys good ones at times.

Star Member CountAllVotes (20,217 posts)

10. Agree

These "wealth management advisors" make a bundle off of your money.

Every hand that it passes through YOUR money keeps a chunk of it. Its no secret when you see all of the "fees" they charge!

Scam indeed!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217564297

[CollectivismMustDie]

Star Member CountAllVotes (20,217 posts)

10. Agree

These "wealth management advisors" make a bundle off of your money.

Every hand that it passes through YOUR money keeps a chunk of it. Its no secret when you see all of the "fees" they charge!

Scam indeed!

Sounds like government, only voluntary.

I bet this primitive is all for more taxes and more government.