What should we do,

[SheilaT]

4. Yep.

It's the people who panic and start selling at the first downturn in the market that provide the buying opportunities for others.

During that period of time that the stock market was closed after September 11, 2001, my sister called me and asked what I thought she should do when it opened back up. Sit tight, I said. Sure, there will be a decline at first, but then it will come roaring back. Which is pretty much what happened.

I have a financial adviser I trust, and overall I'm doing quite well. What's also interesting is that in the long run the very worst thing you can do is be totally in bonds, or totally in cash.