for mutual funds and stocks...you are entrusting your money to fund managers who are expert in investing, while you can put your 101 percent trust that they will handle your money well, not much to those companies that the funds were invested....and to think that these investments will take 20 years or more for you to know if your money is really earning....but if you invest your money in a business you owned...you are in direct control of it, you can keep tract on how it is doing on a day to day basis..