[ConstantSkeptic]

The biggest reason individuals under-perform the stock market averages is that they try to time the market. The market drops, they get scared and jump out of the market. Yes, they may avoid more downside, but they also miss some of the biggest stock market gains. It’s missing the gains which dooms them to subpar performance.

I will always invest in the U.S. stock market because I believe in the longevity and profitability of American businesses. My husband and I have invested in the stock market for decades, during both the good years and the bad years.

I’m a strong believer in the philosophy of the Bogleheads (http://www.bogleheads.org/). They follow the basics of John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard. You decide on an asset allocation which you can live with, fund that asset allocation with low cost index funds, and re-allocate when the asset allocation gets out of balance.

But even with the Boglehead philosophy, we’ll always own a minor position in a half dozen companies which interest us. You have to have some fun too, don’t you? That, along with the two 1-kilo Australian silver coins we own. They’re pretty. That’s the extent of our investment in precious metals. :-)

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

” 1-kilo Australian silver coins we own”

A 2.2 lbs coin. That will fill your pockets right up.

[Aquamarine]

Am one of the many who stayed in too long during the tech wreck back around 2000. Rode all the gains in 4 different Janus tech mutual funds down to the original investment and got out. After a few years got back in, invested in well picked individual stocks and watched them closely making some of it back.

Appreciate the link to the Boglehead's site, it's always good to stay current on what is happening in the financial world.