If you had invested in China’s brand-new stock market in 1993, how much would you have made?
Ten to one? Less.
Five to one? Less.
Two to one? Less.
You would have made 1% a year.
Yet Chinese who live in in cities are vastly richer today than in 1991. In China, the system pays off for workers, not investors.
Of course, in the USA, stocks have gone nowhere since the year 2000. The S&P 500 is actually lower than it was in 2000 in terms of purchasing power.
Then where can Westerners get rich by investing in stocks? Not in China, so far. Not in the United States any more.
Then what happens to Americans’ dreams about retiring in comfort? Kiss them goodbye. And good riddance. If you can stay productive, you should. If you can still make other people’s lives better, you should. Staying in the labor market is a good way to make other people’s lives better.