Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's horsemen could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
The Stock Market has had a great fall and all the brokers, CEOs, analysts and politicians have not been able to get it back up again.
Oh, it will go up again, but if history has a way of repeating it will be a long time before we see it at "even". From 1920 to the present there have been 3 major bull markets lasting close to 16 years. Unfortunately, each has been followed by a bear market of about the same length of time. So far we are ending the 3rd year of the projected down cycle with only 13 more years to get to the bottom. It is a long way off.
At a recent investment seminar one of the speakers asked his large audience if they believed the stock market would be higher 5 years from now. Every one except one thought it would be. The current mindset of most investors believes this also. For the period from 1982 to 2000 (18 years, close enough) there has been a bull market. Every investor has considered himself to be a financial genius during that time. There is an old saying, "The market makes fools of us all ? sooner or later".
Unless you learn to listen to what the market is saying and not your broker, you will be able to recoup some of your losses, but probably not all. During this long-term bear called a secular bear market, your main effort will not be to make money but to keep from losing more. During a bear market the one who loses the least is a winner. You may not like what I say, but history has that strange way of doing it over and over.
Maybe I am wrong about it because "this time it is different". I hope so, but you can protect your money in your 401K or elsewhere with a simple loss limit order. Call your broker and have him place a 10% (or whatever number your prefer) stop-loss order on all your positions. That way you don't guess about where to sell; you let the market tell you when it has turned weak.
Brokers and brokerage companies hate stop-loss orders and will try to talk you out of it. Ask him if he will guarantee your portfolio. You can bet he isn't that dumb. It is your money. Once it is gone you will have very little chance of getting it back. Protect what you have left.
Don't be a Humpty Dumpty!
Al Thomas
Author of "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!"
Never lose money in the stock market again.
http://www.mutualfundmagic.com
disinfecting cleaning services Buffalo Grove ..How do you invest? What do you really pay? At... Read More
Starbucks earnings are up again and so is their stock... Read More
As I said in Part I everyone in the insane... Read More
The following are a list of nine things you want... Read More
Sometimes the best way of lowering exposure to risk is... Read More
Before you buy another car you walk around the lot,... Read More
Ever notice how behavior in one area of life can... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
What is the Series 7 Exam? If you... Read More
Are you one of those many people who dread reading... Read More
Hedge current portfolio positions and gain access to capital resources... Read More
For years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
If you have been watching the stock market at all... Read More
I often play a little game with myself when I... Read More
In his wonderful book, 'Multiple Streams of Income', best selling... Read More
Analyzing growth stocks is an important focus for any investor.... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
AS BUILDERS BEGIN WORK ON THE FREEDOM TOWER in New... Read More
After finding the price of a particular stock, usually the... Read More
Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More
Everyone who invests in the stock market wants to be... Read More
I love roller coasters. The steeper the better. High and... Read More
There are many good penny stock investments available, which could... Read More
You'd have had to be living on a desert island... Read More
spotless home service Arlington Heights ..Wall Street's watchword has always been diversification, but what does... Read More
One of the big advertising kicks today from mutual funds... Read More
Refuse is a serious issue in any society, about as... Read More
For weeks, no, months we have been bombarded with nothing... Read More
With all the bad news that has been dumped upon... Read More
Wall Street has been preaching for years and years to... Read More
Four blind men were asked to give a description of... Read More
You may have wondered why your mutual funds have been... Read More
You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
Mutual funds are doing more and more to discourage investors... Read More
Ever jumped out of an airplane? It's OK if you... Read More
First let's see what protectionism is. According to Mr. Webster... Read More
To begin, you might look at playing the stock market... Read More
Just about everything you have been told about Social Security... Read More
When purchasing mutual funds we are cautioned to read the... Read More
It has often been said that there is only two... Read More
It has fallen upon the consumer to make our economy... Read More
Everyone who invests in the stock market wants to be... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics is that a... Read More
An investor can find and research the best stock on... Read More
At some time in your life you have been on... Read More
I use the P/E ratio as a secondary indicator for... Read More
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all the King's... Read More
The broker told me not to sell because the mutual... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |