Retail investors are cautiously optimistic, says Investopedia's Caleb Silver

Group 1 - Retail investors are showing cautious optimism as the year comes to a close, with a bullish sentiment despite concerns about market bubbles [1][2] - Expectations for returns over the next 6 to 12 months are realistic, with investors anticipating around 5% to 10% returns, indicating a grounded outlook [2] - There is a growing interest in event contracts and prediction markets among retail investors, reflecting a shift in investment mentality [3][4] Group 2 - Retail investors are primarily focused on large-cap stocks and are willing to invest additional funds into the stock market, particularly as interest rates decline [6][7] - The survey indicates a notable change in sentiment compared to earlier in the year, with previous concerns about policy uncertainty and tariffs affecting investor behavior [8]