Large short-term profits can often entice those who are new to the market. But adopting a long-term horizon and dismissing the "get in, get out and make a killing" mentality is essential for any investor. This doesn't mean that it's impossible to make money by actively trading in the short term. Trading involves very different risks that buy-and-hold investors don't experience. As such, active trading requires certain specialized skills. Neither investing style is necessarily better than the other - both have their pros and cons. But active trading can be wrong for someone without the appropriate time, financial resources, education and desire.