I've been looking into where to put my savings for the next few years, and I keep circling back to index funds versus individual stocks. Index funds are simple and historically reliable, but they also feel a bit passive — is that the right approach for someone who has time to research and pick companies? On the other hand, picking stocks can be exciting but I've read that most active investors underperform the market over a decade. What's your take on balancing risk and effort when you're starting out with a moderate sum?