I have an experimental account I started with $1k about 5 years ago. I buy a stock and hold until it appreciates by 20%. I then keep half of the appreciation, sell the rest (initial investment +10% profit), pick another stock and repeat. Sometimes I don't sell for more than a year. Sometimes I sell within a month of buying. It's at $2753 right now, but was at $4300 about 1 year ago. I've decided to just keep going from here on out and see what happens. I'll leave what remains for my daughter. If a pal asks you to invest in his new business, you get all the inside information you can. That's investing. Stocks are not investing. Yes, it's tough to make a case that now is the time to buy.I may get creative again but right now? I like not thinking about it.