[dbfclark]

The point really is that "risking your capital" is not in and of itself a productive activity -- making stuff is. I work as an investment analyst myself which is good in both the "fun" and "profit" departments, but I'm not about to pretend that I'm creating value for the world in any but the most indirect of ways.

[grandalf]

Well, by matching investors with investments you are helping the market supply capital where it's needed.