I am only able to answer 4.
It depends on your risk appetite and how much you have got to lose. Do you know which shares can gain a lot in many years? If not, just go for a strong fundamental company with dividend.

If you are looking for a place to keep your money with higher returns.
Dividend stock might just be a better deal than saving your money in the bank.

If you invest in the right stock, you will be rewarded. In fact, the best way to make more money, is by spending wisely. I can say that many people who invest and reap some return from it, will eventually spend on things they don't really need.

I started investing pretty early age of 24 too. I was so excited with the stock market thinking that making money though it would be easy. I did a test run with simulated stock market based on actual live performance.

The result was pretty good. I spend 1 hour before the market open, doing some quick research on possibly top performer of the day and set a plan on what to buy n sell within a day (Day Trading) then I trade on the market till the market close.

It was pretty good at first but after 6month of doing that, I notice that you are just placing bets, you may make RM1,4k per day and the next day, RM200, another day RM2,000 then after that, -RM2000. Its all plus plus and minus minus. In the end, you probably end up around the same figure as you invested, but you spend the whole day trading. I would have earn RM5k on first month with 8k Capital, but you can easily lose that amount the next month.. I was lucky I stop after 6month and reap RM2,000 earnings from it. I then know if I don't stop, either I end up losing everything, or breakeven, or maybe if "lucky" you can make much more ? (Even if you earn much more, you might possibly lose everything one day)
Btw, it wasn't easy. I spent 4 hours at night looking through a few good companies and active counters of the day. Study the technical chart and historical trends (Day trade is based more on technical analysis to me) 1-2 hour before trading opens to see how much queue on a stock, n check if theres any last minute annoucement.

Then I converted to Middle to Long term Investor. On counters that will see growth in 6 month, 1 year, or 3-5years in the future. The growth is there, but I believe the KLSE isn't as volatile as many other exchanges. It has been improving these years which is good. Stocks that are good are starting to move. I start to make 10-30% a year on more conservative stock trading. ( I am keeping to this strategy, less stress everyday and that's the wise way of investing.)

The lesson i learn is,
1. I wont take the money that I gained from stock trading, out of my trading account. Because it will be reinvested and your money will grow. If you take it out, you will think of what to buy with the RM300 you make, leaving a net of 0% increase in your pocket.

2. Rumour and speculation is dangerous. If i tell you this lousy stock will jump tomorrow, its a 50-50 chance. Invest with some risk management.

3. Policies & the Economy changes every now and then, you will always update yourself everyday. The Business section of newspaper is a good source but a bit slow. I am heavily relying on TheEdgeMalaysia on mobile phone. Getting the latest update might give you first hand information on what is the good stock of tomorrow. (E.G if MRT Project, Iskandar Project, High Speed Rail, Oil Exploration, all these news have impact on certain sector. It will move construction sector and other supporting industry, you will be expecting additional revenue in these company)

Until today, I can never call myself a investing guru, I know am still lacking a lot of investment knowledge. As long as i stick to my principle and try my best to resist temptation, you will likely to earn more money here than FD or any Bank plans.

I still have a lot of stories but aiya, cut things short. lolz
By the way, I never gambled in any casino not even for leisure. Not even Chinese New Year.
Because I believe the only way to win money through gambling, is to open a casino, and not placing bets.

This post has been edited by Untitled2: Apr 29 2014, 04:11 PM