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Freaking out about the markets!


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Yeah I'm wanting to empty my 401k too, while there is still money left in it. But I'm gonna try to stick it out.

They say the market always bounces back. Isn't there going to be a time when it doesn't ? Doesn't everything have an end? Sorry-been writing too many literary analysis papers lately-I'm getting all poetic and philisophical on ya'll. :lol:

But no seriously, I am getting nervous.

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Yes, it is scary.....but the last time the DJIA was this low was.......right after 9/11. SOOOOO, this is a blip on the financial scope just like the Carter years, the gas crisis of the 70s and let go ahead and mention the crash of 79.

If you do as recommended....stocks in your youth, half and half in your mid-years, bonds in your pre-retirement years, you will be fine. Regardless of these twists and turns, the stock market always has and always will rebound.

We have been hearing for years that the bubble was going to burst. We just don't like living through it. It will be OK.:mrgreen:

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Wow, what's next?? 8600 pts? OMFG!

You just can't look, unless you want to buy more. I mean it is not pretty but think about this for a moment. There is a real economy out there. People wil still need food, water, power, gas, ::tp::, I could go on. :)

Today will probably be bad, GE reports this morning and let's hope they hit their mark. Hang in there :).

GE just reported as I was typing. They reported in line with analyst estimates. Of course their finance arm was down. Energy infrastructure was up 31% :D .

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according to the news, wall street is still falling this morning.

only good news is oil is down to 82 $ a barrel.

I just moved everything into the most conservative mix I can with the 401. It's through Xerox and as long as hubby is working he can't get to the money. (I don't know why):roll:

he's lost 20 percent so far. (was in a moderate mix before) Hasn't made any money in it for a year.

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Well, I may be nuts, but I increased my contributions by 1% beginning next week. I've got about 30 years before I retire. With things (in the market) getting cheaper by the day, I figure I'll reap the rewards in a few years.
YES!!!! You have the right idea. As the markets have taken a dump, I've increased mine from 8% -> 12% -> 15% -> 20% -> As of Wednesday, I'm at 24%! Take advantage of this! ::idea2::
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YES!!!! You have the right idea. As the markets have taken a dump, I've increased mine from 8% -> 12% -> 15% -> 20% -> As of Wednesday, I'm at 24%! Take advantage of this! ::idea2::

You think this is smart? I'm not asking that to be a smartass, I really want to know. For the year I've had a 40% loss. You don't think the market will just completely tank at some point?

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You think this is smart? I'm not asking that to be a smartass, I really want to know. For the year I've had a 40% loss. You don't think the market will just completely tank at some point?

He has the right idea and I might as well do the same. (But only 2% more because I really can't afford anymore than that)

The idea is to BUY when the market tanks, not sell, ESPECIALLY if these are retirement account and you have a 20-30 year horizon.

Unless you feel that the world is going to end up like Mad Max and the Thunderdome, you buy into a selloff. If you start switching stuff now, you will lock into your losses, and you will not recover the way you should have.

In both my Roth and 457, I have 100% stocks, but I'm diversified into 31% Large Cap Growth, 21% Large Cap Value, 20% International (I know other people who went 40-60% international, and they want to kill themselves now), and the rest in between small and mid cap growths and values.

100% high risk, and the way my portfolio is looking it shows, but I have to keep my percentages the way they are when the market swings back up, (and it will).

In short everyone....keep the faith if this is long term and don't lock into your losses.

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It did tank! We're hitting rock bottom value, unless you subscribe to the theory that US & foreign companies have no value at all. You are now buying at the price many of these companies were at in the late 1990s.

I'm probably down 35% or so as well. I feel your pain. But in reality, who cares?

Maybe the market goes down another 10%...maybe it goes up 50%. I just don't know. No one does! But you're getting 1.6 times the shares you were getting a year ago. To me, that means its time to step it up. Ten years from now, you'll thank yourself.

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...But only 2% more because I really can't afford anymore than that.
I'm fortunate to have a spouse that has equal income and we live in a home that costs us next to nothing. Its our home sweet shoebox :). Plus, the % I'm at right now can't be sustained or I'll blow right through the federal annual limit.

But I think we're of the same mindset. Buy buy buy when stocks correct, then ease up a bit as they rise. Steady hands will be rewarded.

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I'm probably down 35% or so as well. I feel your pain. But in reality, who cares?

Hell, I care! :lol: I care a whole lot! I've "only" lost about a grand but I know people who have lost atleast a hundred grand. :shock: My Dad says it just added years to his retirement age. :(

Anyhow, what do you guys think of what my money is buying? I had these selected for me about 5 years ago and haven't changed them. Am I screwing up badly here? They were doing really really good for a while. BTW-just bumped my contribution rate up 3%. That's all I can afford but I felt like a daredevil doing it! :oops::lol:

American Fnds Grth-CL 2

American Fnds Grth-Inc 2

Fidelity VIP Mid Cap 2

Legg Mason Appreciation

Templeton Growth Fund

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Hell, I care! :lol: I care a whole lot! I've "only" lost about a grand but I know people who have lost atleast a hundred grand. :shock: My Dad says it just added years to his retirement age. :(

Anyhow, what do you guys think of what my money is buying? I had these selected for me about 5 years ago and haven't changed them. Am I screwing up badly here? They were doing really really good for a while. BTW-just bumped my contribution rate up 3%. That's all I can afford but I felt like a daredevil doing it! :oops::lol:

American Fnds Grth-CL 2

American Fnds Grth-Inc 2

Fidelity VIP Mid Cap 2

Legg Mason Appreciation

Templeton Growth Fund

I actually have American Funds Growth Large Cap. Before the Market tanked, they were doing quite well, and I would not get rid of them ever.

To answer your fears, Deanna, you are a young woman. You're not going to take money out for years to come. When you get into your mid 40s, that's when you start getting into some safe money like bonds, money market, etc. In a couple of years, it's going to be a bad memory....and you will be thanking yourself that you didn't do anything stupid. It is hard to hear that now (I know, cause it's just as hard saying it), but you're going to be ok, as will I, JQ26 and everyone else with a 401k (or in my case, 457B).

I am down about $4k right now....that number just keeps getting bigger and bigger, but like JQ26 says, who cares?

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