<prompt> Human: I understand it is important to invest your money to at least match inflation, but why do people invest in the stock market? It seems to me to be complete luck - a financial firm using a cat to select stocks was more successful than most using market analysis. Obviously I dont know much about investing, but it seems to me that as the stock market booms and busts over the course of my life, Im most likely to break even. Am I not better off making low risk investments? Does slow and steady win the race?I am interested in learning more. Can you please suggest a few good resources for beginner investors?  <response>: Dont pick individual stocks.it seems to me that as the stock market booms and busts over the course of my life, Im most likely to break even.That may be your perception, but any 30-year return graph of any of the major indicies will show that to not be the case. 