Comments on: A Quick Review of the S&P 500 2008 Monthly Total Returns http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/ A personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:00:57 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Cheaplee http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-365169 Cheaplee Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:50:22 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-365169 The statistics may be frightening, but it just shows you how important looking at a volatility indicator, like the VIX, can be as a determinate of getting out of the market. Simply put, stocks fall 3 to 4 times faster than rise. So when they move downward faster, their volatility goes up. Hence when the VIX rises, the stock market falls. When the VIX rises past a certain amount, I get out! Simple and straightforward. Consider this as a tool for your investment arsenal. -Lee at www.cheaplee.com The statistics may be frightening, but it just shows you how important looking at a volatility indicator, like the VIX, can be as a determinate of getting out of the market.

Simply put, stocks fall 3 to 4 times faster than rise. So when they move downward faster, their volatility goes up. Hence when the VIX rises, the stock market falls.

When the VIX rises past a certain amount, I get out! Simple and straightforward. Consider this as a tool for your investment arsenal.

-Lee at http://www.cheaplee.com

]]> By: Double232 http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-365118 Double232 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:44:27 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-365118 We'll see what you all are saying next year after another 22% drop... We’ll see what you all are saying next year after another 22% drop…

]]> By: Steve Heath http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-365096 Steve Heath Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:15:52 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-365096 I'll just remember April, May and August and forget the rest :) I’ll just remember April, May and August and forget the rest :)

]]> By: Chief Family Officer http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-365082 Chief Family Officer Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:36:30 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-365082 This is one of those times when I think ignorance is bliss - at least for me. All of my investments are on automatic, so I actually try not to follow the news and especially stock market trends, lest I panic and think investing is a bad idea. I certainly couldn't bring myself to put <i>more</i> money into the market right now. But I also believe that when I'm retiring 20+ years from now, this will have simply been a (big) bump in the road. It's just easier not to think about it too much! This is one of those times when I think ignorance is bliss – at least for me. All of my investments are on automatic, so I actually try not to follow the news and especially stock market trends, lest I panic and think investing is a bad idea. I certainly couldn’t bring myself to put more money into the market right now. But I also believe that when I’m retiring 20+ years from now, this will have simply been a (big) bump in the road. It’s just easier not to think about it too much!

]]> By: Cheng http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-365080 Cheng Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:31:23 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-365080 Don't do the Dow's numbers. We don't want to perpetuate the notion that the Dow is representative. Don’t do the Dow’s numbers. We don’t want to perpetuate the notion that the Dow is representative.

]]> By: john http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-364987 john Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:53:05 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-364987 i've been in cash for a long time. i’ve been in cash for a long time.

]]> By: Gerard http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/29/a-quick-review-of-the-sp-500-2008-monthly-total-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-364968 Gerard Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:42:41 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2843#comment-364968 I'm quite happy to remember this year! Just finished up with uni and buying stocks this cheap is sweet, so sweet! I’m quite happy to remember this year! Just finished up with uni and buying stocks this cheap is sweet, so sweet!

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