I'm super picky about stocks. First, I need the main force to control the market steadily, only moving in one direction. When it rises, it should climb like a bulldozer with small, steady steps—no wild swings or volatile surges. Second, the fundamentals have to be solid. Both criteria are non-negotiable. Take semiconductors, for example—remember how I strongly recommended AMD? Doesn't it meet both standards? These two rules help filter out a ton of highly volatile popular stocks. Honestly, I have no idea how retail investors manage to hold onto those wild, swing-heavy stocks. The holding experience comes first. Your portfolio should grow steadily every day, without major pullbacks.