Aside from gold, investments in real estate and the stock market have been and continue to be major vehicles for wealth preservation and, preferably, for wealth generation. Interestingly, among these, stock trading has been one of the major avenues by which one of the world's richest men, Warren Buffett, was able to build his fortune.

Successful investment entails research coupled with goal-setting, discipline, and a strategic plan to identify and make the most of opportunities. Although past performance does not guarantee how stocks or equities will fare in the future, a review of historical trends will show that upswings can follow downturns and vice-versa, but generally rise as the overall economy improves, of course with the appropriate bellwether stocks or indices.

The internet era has facilitated an easier way to invest in stocks via online trading. Online brokers provide an array of services to assist investors in making the best investment choices based on individual goals and targets and expert analyses. Whether one adopts a swing trading or a buy and hold approach, it is the basis of the decision and of course the eventual result that matter. The beauty with stocks is that generally (except in the case of forced moves as in certain shorting scenarios) it is the investor who sets where the finish line is, which often and ideally would be around the time of retirement or when one is making one's legacy.