The total stock market (S&P 500) return during the 1990s was:

Predicted by most Wall Street analysts at the beginning of the decade.
Lower than the historical average
The highest of any decade in the 20th century.
Approximately the same as the total return during the 1970s.

The astute investor is aware that:

Investment risk is limited to the fortunes of the specific security purchased.
Computers make investment decisions scientific and eliminate much of the risk.
Actual outcome of any investment may differ from the expected outcome.
When trading on-line, brokerage commissions are always negotiable.

A limit order:

Is used to protect a profit if it is a limit order to buy.
Is used to execute a sell at a specific price or lower if possible.
Is an order to buy or sell at a specific price or better and can be good till canceled.
Is an order to be executed at the best price available and is not known until after confirmation is received.

Buying on margin::

Precludes the advantage of using leverage.
Is not affected by limits on borrowing established by ERISA.
Minimizes losses if the price of a security declines.
Is possible by borrowing from a broker.

Mortgage payments:

Can be completely deducted from income for tax purposes.
Vary from month to month on a fixed rate loan.
Represent high principal payments early in the term of the loan.
Are typically tax deductible to the extent that they represent payment of interest.

Beta is commonly used as a relative measure of risk. It measures:

Standard deviation of a stock’s price.
The expected total returns of a diversified portfolio.
The unsystematic risk component of an investment.
The risk of a security or portfolio relative to the overall market.

Credit cards:

Are a cost effective way of financing investment purchases.
Have interest payments that are not tax deductible.
Typically have lower interest rates than home equity loans.
Often have 3 month grace periods on new purchases.

Variable life insurance:

Offers tax deferral.
May provide higher return potential and greater risk than a whole life policy.
Allows you to invest a portion of the premium in various subaccounts.
All of the above.