Confirming. In college, I received what I thought was a decent windfall for a young adult (and what was roughly what people say should be enough to "get started

Confirming. In college, I received what I thought was a decent windfall for a young adult (and what was roughly what people say should be enough to "get started" investing). I invested it. This was just after the rally post-recession had hit its apex. Fast-forward 3 years later, when I've been laid off. Well, now I need that money, but the stock is worth less than when I bought it. I don't make enough to itemize taxes, so I can't even do anything with the loss. Welp. I'd have been better off just letting it sit in a bank. When you're a normal American - increasingly lower-"middle class," if that, these financial schemes are worthless to you. You're in perpetual survival mode. But try to convince wealthy capitalists to pay the average worker enough to allow them to actually be in control of their financial destiny. You'll be laughed out of the room.