Comments on: 2008 Benchmark Index Returns http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-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. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Josh Itzoe http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-394378 Josh Itzoe Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:27:45 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=3059#comment-394378 No question the past several months have been extremely difficult. I thought this link on the Bogleheads Forum my be encouraging: http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30257 Also, Chris has a great point about bad responses. Unfortunately, the data suggests that November 2008 was not a good one for investor behavior. I discuss here: http://www.fixingthe401k.com/the-blog/2008/12/17/buy-high-sell-low-some-things-never-change.html No question the past several months have been extremely difficult. I thought this link on the Bogleheads Forum my be encouraging:

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30257

Also, Chris has a great point about bad responses. Unfortunately, the data suggests that November 2008 was not a good one for investor behavior. I discuss here:

http://www.fixingthe401k.com/the-blog/2008/12/17/buy-high-sell-low-some-things-never-change.html

]]> By: Chris http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-394370 Chris Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:53:07 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=3059#comment-394370 That hurts. I'm confident 2009 will be better though. I just hope everyone is keeping up/increasing contributions like some of these posters. It is a bad response to pull out or quit investing, and that is a mistake that far too many people will make. That hurts. I’m confident 2009 will be better though.
I just hope everyone is keeping up/increasing contributions like some of these posters. It is a bad response to pull out or quit investing, and that is a mistake that far too many people will make.

]]> By: Nick http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-394172 Nick Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:41 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=3059#comment-394172 Ouch! I didn't do the math to realize a 70% gain would be needed to recover! Being a recent college grad, i'm not too concerned yet as I have a lot of time left. Todd makes a good point about increasing 401k investments at this low point- especially for young investors like me. Thanks JLP! Ouch! I didn’t do the math to realize a 70% gain would be needed to recover!

Being a recent college grad, i’m not too concerned yet as I have a lot of time left. Todd makes a good point about increasing 401k investments at this low point- especially for young investors like me.

Thanks JLP!

]]> By: Todd http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-394144 Todd Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:16:32 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=3059#comment-394144 This is so painful because it takes nearly a 70% gain to recover from a 40% loss. I am really looking for a way to avoid at least some of carnage of these bear markets. It may take us several years to recover. Dollar cost averaging during these down times helps. I always try to increase my investing during a down market. I increased my 401K to 20% withdrawal. This is so painful because it takes nearly a 70% gain to recover from a 40% loss. I am really looking for a way to avoid at least some of carnage of these bear markets. It may take us several years to recover. Dollar cost averaging during these down times helps. I always try to increase my investing during a down market. I increased my 401K to 20% withdrawal.

]]> By: Mark http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-394123 Mark Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:04:46 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=3059#comment-394123 Last year was a brutal one for the market. Hoping that 2009 is better. Last year was a brutal one for the market. Hoping that 2009 is better.

]]> By: thomas http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/31/2008-benchmark-index-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-394120 thomas Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:51:00 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=3059#comment-394120 I think "bad year" is an understatement. We'll see how the market reacts with a new government in place and corporate belt tightening. I think “bad year” is an understatement. We’ll see how the market reacts with a new government in place and corporate belt tightening.

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