General Discussion

marybourg

(13,642 posts)

14. I have an even simpler strategy:

Sun Jun 17, 2012, 08:08 PM

Jun 2012

live below your means, yeah, that means forgoing some things other people have; invest in a mix of stocks and bonds appropriate to your age, preferably in low cost total stock and total bond market index funds; take advantage of your employer's matching funds if any, rinse and repeat for your whole adult life. Don't time the market or pick stocks. You can't do it. That's all it takes. And I DID become rich. Dow was ~1200 when I started investing in 1982; now it's 12,000+. That's 900 % on my stock portion; bonds paid off less, but were ballast when stocks tanked.That's all it takes folks.

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So do we jump back in the market with our 401`s? [View all] slater71 Jun 2012 OP

IMO, fuck that scam. NYC_SKP Jun 2012 #1

Only gamble what you can afford to lose Vincardog Jun 2012 #2

Sure. This is a great time to buy marybourg Jun 2012 #3

Buy Apple Stock. nt onehandle Jun 2012 #4

Don't you find it amazing that republicans are suppose to hate social security but that has southernyankeebelle Jun 2012 #5

I never jumped out and my IRA has done very well since Obama took doc03 Jun 2012 #6

Well, you can, sort of Warpy Jun 2012 #7

Depends on your age. If you are young, maybe you have the time to sit out a bad JDPriestly Jan 2013 #52

Thanks for your informing comments. slater71 Jun 2012 #8

I was scared of Bush and pulled out spring 2001. hollysmom Jun 2012 #9

Your second paragraph is a bit misleading A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #15

These are bank CDs hollysmom Jun 2012 #18

ALL CD's are Bank CD's A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #22

I don't know how many wys I can say this - no hollysmom Jun 2012 #40

Feelin' kinda like you wanna bash your head against the wall there, are ya? A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #42

no hollysmom Jun 2012 #47

I have had a simple investment strategy Generic Brad Jun 2012 #10

I have an even simpler strategy: marybourg Jun 2012 #14

live below your means JDPriestly Jan 2013 #53

You've fleshed out all the details. Absolutely right. marybourg Jan 2013 #54

I never jumped out, but if I had Curmudgeoness Jun 2012 #11

Invest in US Treasury Bonds. Odin2005 Jun 2012 #12

LOL... A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #16

if you want <1% returns sure. Meanwhile blue chips often pay 3-7 on dividends alone. dmallind Jun 2012 #30

And some "blue chips" end up being duds Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #44

Familiarize yourself with the term.. sendero Jun 2012 #13

The day after 9/11, I took everything out of the stock and have NEVER looked back benld74 Jun 2012 #17

LOL. ok Logical Jun 2012 #41

It's hindsight, but you're 3 years too late. BadgerKid Jun 2012 #19

401 what? hobbit709 Jun 2012 #20

Yep, buy High sell Low - that's a great market strategy. cbdo2007 Jun 2012 #21

The time to jump back in was March 2009. JoePhilly Jun 2012 #23

Unfortunately..... A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #26

Almost all of them allow you to rebalance your portfolio. JoePhilly Jun 2012 #28

Thanks for the lesson , but I'm way ahead of you A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #31

Humm ... JoePhilly Jun 2012 #33

I haven't responded directly to the OP because I am not in the habit of giving investment advice.... A HERETIC I AM Jun 2012 #43

Yes, but you seemed very willing to respond to others ... even laugh at a few of them. JoePhilly Jun 2012 #48

Spent mine years ago.....nt Wounded Bear Jun 2012 #24

"Sell in May and Go Away" (until November) KurtNYC Jun 2012 #25

That does seem to be the pattern in recent years. JoePhilly Jun 2012 #34

That's really old school market timing KurtNYC Jun 2012 #38

Recently, the market has been pulling back in the early summer ... JoePhilly Jun 2012 #39

My policy is generally not to do whatever everyone else seems to be doing slackmaster Jun 2012 #27

Should have never left - and added more in 3-4 years ago if you could dmallind Jun 2012 #29

Since they create the storms its hard to gauge. raouldukelives Jun 2012 #32

Hold off until next year. mainer Jun 2012 #35

Do the opposite of what your instincts tell you taught_me_patience Jun 2012 #36

Trying to time the market is difficult. See an investment adviser about what your portfolio should yellowcanine Jun 2012 #37

Stocks are a sucker's bet Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #45

Only if you don't mind gambling with your money. Maybe try Atlantic City, you'll probably sabrina 1 Jun 2012 #46

NO! Xyzse Jun 2012 #49

Every now and again I return to bookmarked market threads. dmallind Jan 2013 #50

Any small fish who tries to swim in a sea of full of super-fast computer sharks is likely JDPriestly Jan 2013 #51