drymartini:

3) NEVER indulge in these things for a forseeable future.

    a) Margin Buying

    b) Shorting Stocks

    c) Options and futures.

So basically everything I do is out ;)

I would actually agree about margin, I have never felt any need to use it, but accounts in which you can trade options generally come with margin whether you want it or not.  Just don't use it.

Shorting stocks... hmm again maybe.  Buying puts is a better strategy for most people; if you must literally short, buy a far out of the money call as well just to be safe, since otherwise your max loss is unlimited.

No options though... that's just crazy.  You *could* use options very defensively, say buy SP500 puts at
600 as insurance and offset it by selling similarly out of the money (covered) calls.  I'm surprised everyone doesn't do that.  But, hey, people drive without a seatbelt too.