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After 2008 and the years of volatility that followed, many investors are still afraid (understandably) to put their hard-saved money in common stocks. But with the returns on bonds in the basement and waves of baby boomers reaching retirement age, many are rapidly realizing that they don’t have much choice....

Market volatility is historically low, and the relative calm has Wall Street Nervous Nellies worried. This long-term chart should put you at ease.

Uber stock is in free fall, and has essentially been a disaster since its May IPO. But it could still be a good long-term investment - if you time it right.

Little did I know that when I recommended this “safe” marijuana it would become my best marijuana stock, growing a whopping 170% in just six months.

In the stock market, September is usually a time of increased purpose, as the giants of Wall Street return from their summer vacations (after Labor Day), tanned, re-energized and ready to grapple with the market and its challenges.

Many traders and large hedge funds trade strictly in merger arbitrage. These traders look at deals that have already been announced, and examine the deal terms and the levels the stocks are trading. If they think the chances of the merger going through are great, but the stock being acquired is trading below where it “should,” they see opportunity and will often buy shares (or call options or take some other bullish position). In the case of Pfizer-Allergan, there was plenty of “opportunity.”

Odds favor that we’re still in an overall bull market, so holding most of your strong, profitable names makes sense.

Ahead of the long holiday weekend the market had yet another good week. The S&P 500 gained 1.75%, the Dow rallied 1.5%, and the Nasdaq rose another 1.9%.

This week in an attempt to diversify the portfolio we are adding an energy play.

Cannabis-friendly states are showing strong sales growth while legalization progresses and states tamp down on the illicit markets.

Despite a concerning start to the week for the bulls, Friday’s big rally provided some hope that the market could get back in gear. By week’s end the S&P 500 had lost 0.8%, the Dow had fallen 1.24%, and the Nasdaq had gained 0.07%.

It’s been a relatively quiet week for the major indexes, which is fine by us given the prior five-week run-up. As we write this morning, the Nasdaq is about flat on the week on below-average volume, while the S&P 500 is off a touch.

The market has been changing faster than the weather here in the northeast. And like any big change it’s been a bit tough to navigate.

The major indexes have had a solid week thus far, with most major indexes up 1.5% to 2.5% after this morning’s modest jobs report bounce.

Marijuana is still far from universally accepted, and until it is, the sector will continue to have great growth potential. That’s how investing works.

Profit taking finally set in earlier this week, though this morning’s jobs-inspired pop has erased the losses for the major indexes.

Right now, the sellers are in control, and it will take more than a couple of good days to turn the trend back up. Thus, play some defense and keep your Watch List up to date with potential leaders of the next advance, which will come eventually.

We have four earnings reports from last night to get to today (ARNA, APPF, RPAY, SPT). Right now, I’m getting the first two out and will follow up with the other two shortly.

Holding on to losers has hidden costs that are worse than selling at a loss and moving on.