I've been tracking my portfolio for eight years, and I still think buying individual stocks is a losing game for most retail investors. The data from Dalbar shows the average investor underperforms the S&P 500 by about 3% annually, mostly due to emotional timing. Sure, some people get lucky with a Tesla or Amazon, but those stories overshadow the majority who lose money. Index funds give you market returns without the stress, so why gamble with your retirement?