Here we are on the roll-a-coaster. The stock and bond markets are up and down so much it makes one’s head spin. Yes, I have some money in the market. My choice was to get the hell out of bond funds about two weeks ago. I should never have allowed myself to be talked into them in the first place. The better choice would have been to ladder individual bonds if one has the assets that allow that.
The stock market is another matter. I have about 40% of my retirement assets there. I have made the decision today to head for the sidelines for a time. I hate the herd mentality, but salvaging some is better than none. The market rallied this afternoon, so head ‘em out. Things are just too crazy right now and it does not appear there will be any chance of things getting any better in the near future. The last prediction I saw was that the unemployment rate would hit over 9% by the end of next year. The US auto makers are in serious trouble. Our middle class job loss in the USA has been horrendous for several years. We are in trouble.
We will see if I am right in the long run. I may be making a mistake, but I am willing to take that chance right now. The market is so weird now. I don’t think anyone has seen this kind of turmoil in recent times. The market does not like uncertainty and that is what we have……. world wide. That coupled with an almost totally unknown Presidential capability assuming the leadership of this country is downright scary.