Windowseat,

You wrote, Because his investments are untouchable. ...

This can have much further reaching consequences. If you can't sell your investments (or your CDs?) ever, how do you ever retire - especially if that investment isn't paying you what you need in income? And how do you deal with your losing bets (LQMT)?

If you're young and just investing today, most companies on the stock market are going to fail before you retire. In my opinion if you tend to buy and hang on forever, you should be in funds (preferably ones that also generate income, because you're eventually going to need that) and shouldn't be making long-term bets on individual companies.

At some point you have to be able to touch your investments ... or what's the point?

- Joel