Anyone that truly understands the concept of investment knows there's both the risk and the reward. Investment is not savings, it's not retirement, it's gambling and you need to make sure you gamble knowing all the variables. If you're 80...you don't invest in a bond that is gonna give you 6% after 20 years...you won't live to see it through. I say that to say this, if you gave this dude your last $500 and now you're stressing, you're the dumb ass, not him.
You don't put your last $500 in E-Trade and demand it turn into $560 in 2 years or you're biffed. I lost so much value in my stocks last week, shyt makes me weak in the knees and makes me want to throw up but it's the game we play. You gotta take the highs with the lows...if you don't want to put your cash at risk put it in a shoe box under your bed.