I do pretty much all three. I have only two accounts at Schwab one IRA and one where I can short i.e daytrade. I am not sure where options come in here (I'd guess swing trade)...my wife has a 403(b) and Vanguard Roth (she is younger and more invested in funds and spyd) I am mostly in cash waiting for a pullback when I will initiate some long ETF positions. I dislike stocks for stupid analysts' reports and earning frenzy, except when I can play the options volatility on some. With ETFs, you make less but SAFER. If I am bored on weekends I'd play with my coinbase BTC which I just started recently.
depend what type of etf you trade that you consider safe. give me some eft you trade? there're high volatility etf like uvxy, tvix, and triple leverage etf like spxl and sqqq where beginner shouldn't trade them if they don't know what they are doing.
I trade them all, some I have positions as a hedge with options like SPXS I am in a hole BUT my options will expire worthless in April and I am still hedged my longs. SPXS is better than puts.
Inverses all over the place, divergence eg LABD best Friday SDOW weakest UVXY SQQQ held up ok.. Re charts I use 1 minute but occasionally check 5minute for hammer or ss etc to confirm pivot
Now that they reverse split SPXS I have a dilemma. It will happen on the 8th. I have 600 shares and sold 6 call options.
A blend of these three approaches might work for most people. And it might need to be adjusted not just for personal age but also for employment income and market circumstances. I was share trading from the late 90's and making more money than from working. From the early 2000's I was also spreadbetting (UK) so I could go short as easily as long. Due to lower costs and greater flexibility this soon replaced the share trading. I already had enough invested in shares long-term to deliver an adequate retirement income and I never broke into those investments.
Day Trading - It is short-term trading. The position is opened or closed on the same trading day. The positions are not held overnight. Swing Trading - It is short term or mid term trading. The position is held open for a few days or weeks. Investing - Investment is for long-term, minimum for a year. Personally, I believe in swing trading.
When I read comments on option trading it sounds complicated to me. I only buy and sell shares, with a fair bit of cash. I scout a couple dozen companies I follow, look for a drop multiple time their high price to comfortably believe it will go up at least $5 and buy. I will let it climb if it looks like I will get more than $5, ready to sell if it looks like it will drop back. It may get there in a day or a week or a month, preferably in a day! Pretty simple really.
You have summed it up in short. Thank you for this clarification. It gets confusing at times especially for newbies.