Hold'em or fold'em? What's a Stock Investor to do?

The bottom has to be down there somewhere. Doesn't it?

Another brutal day in the markets and nothing the Fed or anyone else does seems to make any difference.

Several readers have asked if this isn't a good time to be buying.

In normal times, I would say yes. See Shopping for Bargains in a Down Market

But, as I have noted before, this isn't a normal market. Emotions (fear, primarily) are driving much of what should be rational decision making.

Here's the best answer I have.

If you are under the age of 50 and believe we will eventually work our way out of this mess, then, yes, this may be a good time to buy.

You should be prepared, however, for further losses before the market turns up on a permanent trend.

If you are between the ages of 50 and 65, you have a much more difficult decision.

If you buy now, it could take years to return to markets of a year or two years past.

You must decide how long you can wait (and possibly suffer more losses), until the market turns around.

If you are over age 65 or in retirement, you should calculate how long your cash will last before you must begin dipping into principal.

A visit with a trusted financial advisor to discuss your individual situation will be worth the effort.

Not sure who to trust? Consider a fee-based financial planner who has no stake in selling products. You'll pay a fee, but get objective advice.