that's why i say 'easier said than done'

the index performance, dividend pay-out etc are all hard data, so it's hard to argue against the method itself as a 'scam'...

i think the 'scam' part comes from the market manipulation where the mass is pushed off the cliff constantly by the market movements and the media brain-washing, hence the typical mom and pop tends to buy at top and sell at bottom.. .

but for those who can actually stick to the method, who actually buy when vix> 30, 40, 50 or more, those people are handsomely rewarded........ 

and plenty people do retire on stock holdings.... so can't generalizing by saying middle class are the same as poor peers.

on the exits - sure, there could be loss among the long term uptrend, but that is taking some small data sample to compare against large data sample.

there is indeed 'luck' involved... unfortunately we each only have ONE investment lifetime :)