If Hedge fund performance is any example it doesn't sound like too many of us are beating the market.Y
None of these things are guaranteed to make someone money or become rich, but they are sources of excess returns or can help increase efficiency in a return.
Retail traders get to be nimble. Anyone with a little discipline and a half assed strategy should be able to make a little money trading with the info available today and zero commissions. A far cry from when I started back in the good old days when we drew our own graphs, talked to a broker on a land line and it cost 3% each side for a trade.
I think today the retail trader, though at a disadvantage, has a more level playing field than ever before.
I prefer to refer to my speculation as a home based business rather than a hobby. Hobbies cost you money (mine are woodworking and golf) and a business if run right will make you money. It's a pretty simple business really; buy shit other people are willing to pay more for tomorrow; Just keep your inventory turning over even if you have to take the odd small loss.