Since this thread was started -- we lived in a market that pretty much just went UP day after day. I commented repeatedly during that period to have people remember what that all felt like.... It was SO EASY to just buy something and have it go up - making you feel like the smartest guy in the world.
The reason I reminded people about this - and the possible FED interest rate hikes - is because I've lived thru many periods such as we've been in the last 6 months to a year. Down - what I call "the death of a 1000 cuts".... markets just dripping away. You start to really question WTF you're doing.
This is where LONG TERM thinking comes into play! What's that look like? We have no friggin' idea.... but I'd ask you to take a look at any of your holdings longer term chart and start to see the DIPS instead of just the higher price... There's ZILLIONS of them!! But - when you smooth all of that out - the longer term is higher. Right now - everything SUCKS!
Be like me - don't be in a hurry to be buying right now. Just plug away - have your dividends reinvested. When you have extra money - don't be afraid to put it to work - but don't be a pig and try to buy a whole bunch of one thing (say "oil" just because you're 100% positive it's going to come back). Doing that will just bring more short term pain and have you reeling and thinking you're a lousy stock market investor. Just stay steady. Continue to buy when you're ready - continue to diversify - continue seeking dividends. You will be rewarded.
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