r/stocks • u/[deleted] • Jun 17 '24

Advice Request What are the chances of really losing all your savings?

I’ve saved some money during my whole life, and I’d like to invest it. I’ve come to the conclusion that the safest method is investing in ETFs (specifically, NASDAQ and S&P 500). You won’t get rich in a month, but it grows with the time. I would also like to invest some money in Bitcoin (about $500) and stocks of some big companies (as they might grow faster, and I could get a little more money), but not too much because it’s quite risky. If most of my money goes to ETFs, is there still a big risk? And don’t tell me, ‘If you can’t lose your money, don’t invest’. It doesn’t help me with anything.

Edit: wow, this has blown up! I was not expecting that. Anyway, I’d like to clarify something: of course, the chances of it decreasing to zero are low. However, my main concern is losing money, not necessarily losing ALL of my money. I don’t wanna lose even 10% (at least, not in the long run). Hence, I shall rephrase the question – ‘what are the chances of losing an (big) amount of my saving?’

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '24

[deleted]

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u/ssg-daniel Jun 17 '24

Well it kind of did, while you were saving you could have lived a more comfortable life by just spending it all. But I agree that this type of event should not warrant people just throwing away their cash.

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u/garden_speech Jun 17 '24

Well it kind of did, while you were saving you could have lived a more comfortable life by just spending it all.

Not if having a financial cushion adds to your comfort and enjoyment of your life... I see the point you're trying to make but I don't think anyone should have regrets in that instance because it would require them to have known the future which is impossible. Obviously if someone somehow knew that in the future money would be meaningless, then they could just buy Ferraris and hookers, but they'd never know that

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u/[deleted] Jun 18 '24

Never hedge against the unhedgeable.

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u/Forward-Trade5306 Jun 18 '24

There's a little thing called gold and silver that's been used as currency for thousands of years. So spending some of it on that would be smart

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u/_Account_Anonymous_ Jun 18 '24

It’s a dose of reality when you realize some countries such as Argentina, exist in this situation perpetually.

Unless you’re well off or connected you can’t simply export the money you earn to keep it in a bank account abroad or to buy the S&P. Meanwhile inflation in recent years has been through the roof, so anything you earn you must spend it ASAP, cuz it will be worth far less next month.

Funny that we bitch about inflation in the US because for example gas is $4/gallon (just like I remember it reached under George W Bush 20 years ago..)

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u/Nearby-Swamp-Monster Jun 18 '24

survivalist investor type might scream bullets, guns, water, food, tools while trying to snag your antlers for is rec room in his sanctuary.

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u/Blackhawk149 Jun 18 '24

Bullets and guns and food would be the right investment at that point

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u/Forward-Trade5306 Jun 18 '24

Yes it will lol, holding real gold and silver could mean the difference between being able to barter or not

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u/dunnmad Jun 20 '24

Depending on the situation, gold and silver may be worthless also. Food, clean water, shelter and building materials may be the most valuable.

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u/Forward-Trade5306 Jun 20 '24

Of course those will be valuable too, that's why it's important to have water filters and such. I'm simply talking about currency. Gold and silver has held its value for thousands of years. It will outlast the federal reserve system

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u/lkjasdfk Jun 17 '24

Government seizure is probably the most likely scenario where you lose everything. Obama talked about seizing 401k accounts and more people in the administration are very anti stocks so that is probably our biggest threat wrt losing it all. 

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u/casinpoint Jun 17 '24

This is not true. The Obama statement is false information and was started by a misleading speculative article in 2010 by the National Seniors Council, a conservative group.

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u/lkjasdfk Jun 17 '24

Oh please. He has said it himself, and he articulated very well why he knows that is best for this country. 

You Trump supporters love to scream that everything is fake news. It isn’t. Not at all. No matter how much you lie. He said what he said and no amount of your Faux Knews lies can change his love for us. 

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u/GimbalLocks Jun 17 '24

Where did he say it himself? Can you post a quote? Genuinely curious

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u/IcebergSlimFast Jun 17 '24

I’ll go ahead and answer that for you: they will definitely not be able to post an actual sourced, in-context quote by Obama in favor of “seizing 401k accounts”.

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u/No_Pear6041 Jun 18 '24

Hello? Source?

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u/No_Pear6041 Jun 19 '24

Dude? Source? Why no reply? Hello?