stocks

Q: When I was a kid, my grandfather gave shares of stock to his grandkids—actual stock certificates. He thought it would help us learn to be better investors. I remember how I loved to look at those colorful and intricately engraved pieces of paper. Is it still possible to give stock certificates today?

In case you hadn’t noticed, the stock market has been under a little pressure lately. The S&P 500 index has fallen 10% from its all-time high on September 21. The tech-heavy NASDAQ index has been hit even harder, dropping 15% from its high on August 29. The market’s sharp drop has raised the anxiety level for some investors. I have had several people ask me if this is the start of a bear market. I always tell them the same thing: I don’t know. Nobody does. The pundits who try to tell you otherwise are simply fooling themselves.

Q: My wife and I have had some success trading stocks and we want to start doing it full-time. I believe we have sufficient capital and we’ve been taking an online course through a reputable discount brokerage firm. What advice can you give me (other than telling me not to do it)?