The stock market is (and has been) the single biggest contributor to wealth over time. Stock returns have outpaced those of cash, bonds, real estate, commodities, and collectibles. It’s not even close. What is a stock, and what does it mean to own a stock?

If you have the discipline and cash flow to save more than half of your income each month to put toward an early retirement, FIRE might work for you.

“In 2019 we’ll see a corporate earnings recession, 2% GDP growth, escalating trade tensions with China, and President Trump will be impeached. Against this backdrop, U.S. stocks will surge over 25%, the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index will return over 8%, and Gold will be up over 15%.”