I have no problem with retail investors buying stock because they believe in the company and have the patience to hold on to it. That can be a very good, low on stress investment.
But trying to outsmart people living in Bloomberg terminals at their own game, buying on IPO and trying to dump it the same day? Her loss is no ones fault but hers.
Dropping 1/2 of your life savings after retirement into a single nest egg is sort of a classic mistake; one of the textbook things Not To Do when you read any introduction to investing. It's one thing to get flummoxed by handling options and other derivatives; the common wisdom isn't so common there for the novice investor. But stocks are relatively well understood. :-/
It's a real bummer for this lady, and I hope she can figure out how to manage her losses without drastically affecting her life, BUT she committed a classic textbook error in stock trading.
But trying to outsmart people living in Bloomberg terminals at their own game, buying on IPO and trying to dump it the same day? Her loss is no ones fault but hers.