> Receiving dividends isn't buying part of a debt; it's receiving your share of the profits of the company due to ownership. Apologies, I'm applying my own met

> Receiving dividends isn't buying part of a debt; it's receiving your share of the profits of the company due to ownership. Apologies, I'm applying my own meta-interpretation of company funding - for a non-profit, ownership consists only of the assets since there will never be profit, by definition, so the market goodwill is defined to be 0. In such a situation, you can still get exactly the same money to change hands as an investment in a for-profit - by calling it debt. The non-profit could pay interest on the debt in the same way as dividends are paid, and so on. These work like non-voting/Preference shares. I automatically convert "real" terminology into this framework in my head, as I don't really believe groups of people (companies) can be valued philosophically. Apologies for letting it slip out! > What do you suppose happens when you "save" money? I am well aware of all this, a savings account is a less risky way of doing the same thing (although you're supposed to be investing in mortgages rather than companies). When savings rates are good, there isn't any need to risk your capital (let the bank do it for you). When rates are bad, you need to take on some of the risk yourself in order to get a good return. My analysis doesn't change. > For a site that is so encouraging towards investing in businesses with good ideas, I don't understand the aversion to doing the same through the stock market. But you aren't. If you're buying a new share issue, then sure you are. But if you're buying from someone else in the market, you are not funding the company in any way - they don't get any money out of the transaction - what you are doing is much closer to buying a debt in terms of what money actually changes hands.