“If most of the time, retail investors are generally suckers then what’s the alt

–“If most of the time, retail investors are generally suckers then what’s the alternative?”–
Pool most money with others into funds expertly managed. When you have enough, move to a fund for high net worth individuals with better managers.
Keep a small aside of your money to either (a) make use of insider knowledge (for example, I am good at currencies), or (b) understand pop and fad investing by retailers ride up, get out early.
Don’t so much as trade but identify companies you think will grow and compete, and then buy on the dips and accumulate. But greed is why retail is victimized. Be happy to take profits rather than risk them.
The boomer era of cheap capital is over so expect more volatility and less certainty in capital markets in general, with growth depenent upon the success of US industrial repatriation. Even then a 10-20 year period of ‘eh’.
Me, I build companies. I used to do angel investing (loans), currency speculation, and to invest as above (betting against retail investors).
I don’t enjoy investing. I do enjoy building companies. 😉