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Dating is similar to investing. Young people are often attracted by the flashier and more attractive stocks that have promises of fast, high returns. They consequently neglect the associated high risks. They all know what they should look for in the long term, but it's hard to ignore what's hot right now, even if it's grossly overpriced with no earnings or future plans to back it up. Some make it rich, but most lose out. This is usually ok as they have time to recover even if they lose everything since they are young. However, as people get older, they tend to become more conservative and are less likely to risk all their resources.
There are many kinds of investors, from your day traders to people who put money into their retirement plan when they are 20. (Of course there are also people who prefer to leave their money in their savings account) It all depends on your personality and how much risk you are willing to take.
Finally, people differ in how they manage their investments. Some people drop a good stock at the first sign of it going down, and some people hold onto a failing stock for too long because they've invested so much into it already. Few people know when to sell, especially if the price is rising. Short term investing can be fun and exciting, but probably doesn't offer you much in terms of security for the future and can often leave you broke. Some people will even borrow from their future to invest and end up with a huge debt that they need to repay for the rest of their lives. There are also those who like penny stocks: easy to get in, a chance of near-instant return, and no hesitation getting rid of them once you've made enough. Nevertheless, as most financial advisors can tell you, the best way to invest is to be in it for the long haul. Pick stocks based on the character of the company and those with a good track record.
So now, what kind of investor/investment are you?
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