Now is the time to load up on stocks.

[LouAvul]

I just closed out my (Merril Lynch) stock portfolio. In the past ten years I earned a whopping .9% annually.

So, I closed it. Now, if my calculation are correct, stocks are going to go through the roof. Like, when I sold my silver just before silver skyrocketed. When I washed my car and then it rained, etc.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

I think you did the right thing. The house of cards is going to get a reality check.

[ExtremeUnction]

The stock market is a bubble.

[JPG]

Are you a day late and a dollar short, too?

[bigbob]

If you want back in, check out what PIMCO has said about the “ring of fire” countries and “the new normal”. There are opportunities to earn a good return, but sadly they are not with US-based companies, at least not while the current regime is in power. Their analysis will show why the US is on the same slippery slope as Greece, Spain, Portugal, etc.

[napscoordinator]

Sorry that you haven’t made much in the last ten years. I have the same portfolio that I have had since 1987 and it has increased and decreased in many different times. But over all I believe if you keep it in the account until retirement, you should do very well. Good luck on your decisions on where to put the cash.

[Nervous Tick]

I suppose we don’t want to pick the line you’re in at the supermarket checkout either, eh? :-)

[vpintheak]

I’m a pretty cynical guy, but I’m not sold on the world is ending at the entire stock market is going to crash quite yet.
I just upped the percentage I put away in my 401k. For people like me who have 20 years or more to work, things are going to be OK, and you can buy more shares when the cost is less.

[Moonman62]

The stock market has been on a two year bull run in spite of a bad economy. I can only imagine the Fed printing money can account for it.

[Centurion2000]

Now, if my calculation are correct, stocks are going to go through the roof.

They aren't but good luck.

[mnehring]

I’ve been buying some bargains. Companies will modify practices to continue to try to make a profit. As we get closer to Zero being out, people who buy on the long term may start to get back in. As long as you stick with diversifying and buying companies with good fundamentals there may be profit to make.

[CodeToad]

Thanks! I’ve been waiting for you to turn this market around!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

People have been coerced into being more heavily invested in stocks than they should be for their age and situation. The conventional wisdom has always been to reduce one’s stock percentage and increase one’s fixed income percentage as one ages. That’s because even though stocks tend to outperform bonds in the long run, retirees may not have a long run remaining.

However, the current yield on bonds and CDs is so pathetic that many older folks are overweighted in stocks, as they chase yield. When (and if) the government stops keeping bond yields so incredibly low, it could create a downward spiral in stocks; people sell stocks in order to purchase bonds, which makes stock prices go down, which causes people to sell stocks, which makes people who shouldn’t be in stocks to begin with start to panic and sell stocks, etc.

Funny side note—I have some retirement money with Fidelity. Whatever is not invested in a mutual fund or other security automatically gets “swept” into a short-term money market fund. The rates are so bad that if one had $1,000 in the money market, after six months (and expenses) one would have $1,000.60.

[TomGuy]

A couple of years ago, I had some CD’s at 4-4.5%. Ridiculously low rate, considering that just a few years earlier money markets were earning a low-moderate 8%.

When the 4-percenters were up for renewal, the rate was 2%. When those 2-percenters were up for renewal, the rate was 1%. Ironically, my bank’s money market was earning 1.2%.

The rates are so ridiculously low, they are hardly earning anything.

Great for those wanting to borrow; bad for those who need interest income.

[PGR88]

Please tell me what stocks you are selling, so that I can
buy them immediately.

[43north]

I continue to invest in precious metals - lead and brass.

[goodnesswins]

HA....at least your are learning.

[Cheerio]

IMHO your headline is missing the word "NOT".

Can anyone say Dot.com or housing bubble? The economic base to support these stock prices is not there - unemployment numbers (U6) is a good indicator of the mess America is in. Still at 15.9% in April 2011. The Fed is keeping the stock market up there with QE1 and QE2.

[Fitzy_888]

QE2 is 200 billion into the stock market per month. QE3 and QE4 the DOW might never fall far below 12000, it’s the new definition of success.

What’s more, with all this currency dilution your house is worth more US dollars everyday.

It’s all good! /sarc

[cashless]

I see you have the same impeccable sense of timing that I do. When I decide to buy, I have to ask myself, “Should I buy now and destroy so many portfolios as well as mine.” Now I only buy and sell commodities using ETFs. Works better and by using trailing stop, I get out before real damage is done.