Too often, people confuse investing for gambling. It’s not. If you take a look at the dictionary definitions, investing and gambling are quite different: invest: “to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.” (via Dictionary.com ) gambling: “the activity or practice of playing at a game of chance for money or other stakes.” (via Dictionary.com ) So with investing, you’re making an educated decision to earn potential profits. With gambling, you’re playing a game of chance. Look… all investing involves risk. But there’s a big difference between smart investing and gambling : Buying a “hot stock” on a tip, without doing significant research, is gambling. Diligently setting aside money, putting it the best stocks or funds for your goals, and leaving it put for the long run … that’s investing. If you love researching stocks and making fast trades in search of shor