\> Okay, I need your advice, guys.

If I want to invest for the long term, how do I pick the right stocks?

I've had bad experiences with Adobe, Microsoft, and most recently DRAM. I don't think I'm buying at the top—I usually wait for pullbacks. But somehow, it always feels like I'm on the wrong side of the market. I never seem to make money the way other people do.

Maybe I'm just unlucky, or maybe my timing is bad.

What's your advice? How do you identify a stock that still has a long runway ahead?

I'm willing to be patient, but I don't want to become a bag holder like I did with Adobe or some of my other investments.

I always do some research before buying a stock, but it seems like every stock I buy drops for one reason or another.

I remember when NBIS fell from $300 to $250. I thought buying at a $50 discount from the high was a good entry, but then it crashed to $170 in just three trading sessions after I bought. It's rebounding now, but experiences like that make me question what I'm doing wrong.

I'm asking because I'm tired of hearing, "You bought at the top." Which stocks aren't near their highs? Most quality companies already look expensive. So what is a new long-term investor supposed to do?

Even DCA doesn't always feel like the answer. If a stock decides to keep falling, there doesn't seem to be any floor.

I'd really appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Need advice