Don't ever, ever, believe anyone who tells you that you can just get by, by doing the easiest thing possible. Because there's always somebody behind you who really wants to do what you're doing. And they're going to work harder than you if you're not working hard.
I'm not a money manager, but I can tell you what the conventional wisdom is. The younger you are, the more risk you can take on.
I think that my biggest attribute to any success that I have had is hard work. There really is no substitute for working hard.
If you or me go to the gas station to fill up our car and it costs us much more than we expected, it will zap our discretionary income. We won't have the extra money to buy that washing machine or new winter coat-all big ticket items that are important to economic growth.
Too many people say to their brokers, I can't deal with this. Take my money. Do what you want. That's the worst attitude you can have.