You need to make a choice

You need to make a choice. Many beginner investors decide they want to be the next Warren Buffett, scouring the market for a portfolio of bargains that deliver 20% returns. Only they want to do it on a few hours a week. After the inevitable investing disasters, they change their mind. It's ok, I'll just take the index return. It doesn't work like that in investing. If you are happy with index returns, you need to make that choice on day one. And if you want to beat the market, you need to fully commit to it. There is no half-way house (I view putting your own portfolio of quality blue-chip stocks together as a fun and engaging form of enhanced index investing). As Benjamin Graham put it, to achieve satisfactory investment results is easier than most people realise; to achieve superior results is harder than it looks. (VIEW LINK)