02-13-2014, 01:55 PM
Not a big fan of the chart - I think it's apples to oranges - but I'm with Alex. Times are strange. Way more government and private debt in conjunction with economic interconnectedness (ie counterparty risk) and the unprecendented QE experiment. Add to that a strong bull market that seems to be disconnected with the rate economic growth (weak at best). Strange, strange times.
I'm old enough to remember many recessions (and the resultant market moves). The big boys get out the door first and the little guys get smoke checked. 1980, 1987, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2008. Hell, in 1998 and 99 people were getting pissed if they make 100% in a year. I knew guys in that era who were close to retirement and lost 80% in the 2000 downdraft. They simply could never recover what they lost even if they worked years past their projected retirement date. So at 55 I'm conservatively invested, but if there is a big downdraft I'll be a buyer for sure
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I'm old enough to remember many recessions (and the resultant market moves). The big boys get out the door first and the little guys get smoke checked. 1980, 1987, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2008. Hell, in 1998 and 99 people were getting pissed if they make 100% in a year. I knew guys in that era who were close to retirement and lost 80% in the 2000 downdraft. They simply could never recover what they lost even if they worked years past their projected retirement date. So at 55 I'm conservatively invested, but if there is a big downdraft I'll be a buyer for sure
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