Most of us view investing in the stock market as a form of glorified gambling. However, this does not have to be the case. By understanding the two basic styles of investing and learning the underlying math and science behind each of those styles, you can put a great deal more certainty into the outcome of your retirement investment portfolio. Longevity is both a blessing and a curse. We are living longer and need our money to last longer in retirement. Yet, becoming overly conservative to avoid the potential risk of the stock market can cause you to run out of money too soon. The reality is the stock market is one of the few places that has been able to outpace inflation over the course of today’s much longer lifespans. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how investing works and to determine how many of your retirement dollars should be appropriately allocated to it.