2006 was my first year in the stock market, and I've successfully managed a small, semi-diversified portfolio of stocks ending the year with over 25% ROI. I'm a fundamentalist, but also snapped some short-term trades here and there speculating on events. In 2007 I got into options trading, and got crushed by the Feb 27 crash evaporating two thirds of my portfolio. Now I use neutral strategies with a goal of achieving slow but steady growth.