stocks

My opinion, shared by the seasoned:  The law of contrary investing is, in essence, when everybody is running one way, you should be going the other way.  Definitely don't become part of the panic crowd.  Slowly, carefully, and above all, steadily acquire that which is available at a bargain price.  Think about it.

Given the current economic conditions internationally, people should consider these age old words of wisdom:  My humble opinion, learned over many years:

Easy does it.  Have a plan for your future, and stick with it.

Timing is everything.  (While it is important to know that you should buy things when the prices / interest rates are low, and sell them when prices are high, it is also important to know that by putting your comprehensive financial plan into place NOW, the compounding gains in value will go to work for you sooner.)

WASHINGTON DC (A Parody) -  In a spectacular conclusion to a 4.5 billion year legacy, the world ended today, leaving traffic snarled for miles.  Commuters found themselves sitting in what at first seemed like a usual morning rush hour, until they realized that there was nowhere to go.  John Smith, who has made the one hour journey from his home to his office for the past two decades, said he turned around and went home after hearing of the big development.  “I barely made it home”, said Smith, “And then I realized that my car was out of gas and there was nowhere to fill up.  So, the wife and I are just going to tear the top off the darned thing, fill it in with dirt, and plant flowers.”  Smith is taking it all in stride, though, and says that he doesn’t regret it.  “I came to hate cars”, he said.  “They just became symbols of our commitments to be places.  Now we can finally take a much needed break.”  Smith added that along with the loss of mobility comes certain relief:  “There are no more banks, no more mortgage companies, no anything”, he said.  “What a relief.  We can finally make ends meet.”

My learned opinion for all of you youngin's and not-so-youngin's out there:  This stock market / diversified investing, is the stuff of which millionaires are made.  Most average folks are in a panic right now.  Before you sell your investments, do some homework.  You will learn that diversified investments are for long-term investing... 10 years or more.  Right now, disciplined investors are the ones who will win big down the road.  The investments you currently have are re-investing earnings, or buying, at bargain prices.  The investments you should be buying, each and every month or more, are being purchased at bargain prices.  That's called dollar cost averaging, which is an age-old proven technique.  You may not see it now, but the buy low / sell high methodology is in play.  If you are likely to live for 20 years or more, you should be slowly buying stocks (ETF's or mutual funds).