I have invested in the standard mutual funds for years and dont feel that my brokers are doing a very good job, lol. If the owner is not savy to the markets, I feel that they shouldnt just leave it up to their brokers. Its like a dba leaving the accounting up to their cpa's. but what do I know anywho. I have been in a pt bus for 15 years and have made less and less money each year. Between lic fees, taxes, fuel expenses, etc. I think the smartest move I made was to go get a real job, full time instead of pt, and do the pt bus pt, lol. the day traders are killin us all long term investors, lol. ( wish I were smart enough to do it, lol ). I once had a great broker, who died at a very young age of a rare blood condition, and left a wife and several children, who told me he thought investing in municipal bond fund in your state was probablly the only way to make steady income long term in these market conditions, ie political unrest, terrorism, currency inbalances, war, etc etc.