Investing (stocks and/or other asset classes).

[YoDoug]

I changed my contribution amount three weeks ago to only 4%.  I have previously been putting 14% of my check into 401k.

I assume this is/was a good idea?  I am only 37, just trying not to Completely lose all of my retirement this year...

I had this thought also, but I decided to ride it out at my current contribution. At lower share prices you are buying more shares with your 14%. The market will come back eventually, my guess is we still have another big dip to go. Hopefully the R's will win back at least the house in Nov and a split government will bring back some stability. When it does owning more shares will be better. If I was close to retirement I would probably have a different outlook.

[Shazam/TPP]

if there is any positive, as Doug said, you're buying low now. At 37 you have a long way to go...

[MIL-TFP-41]

I changed my contribution amount three weeks ago to only 4%.  I have previously been putting 14% of my check into 401k.

I assume this is/was a good idea?  I am only 37, just trying not to Completely lose all of my retirement this year...

If anything you would want to do the opposite. Put more money in (buy more shares) when the price is low. When the price rises, then back off how much you put in. But where a 401K is a very long term thing, I've always been told to just be consistent.

[Dan_AKA_ROY23]

Having another strong bear market rally today...

[pmartin]

I finally found an investment that I (and my wife) are comfortable with. We are buying another property as an investment. It's a 4 bedroom house on 1-1/2 ac lot. The plan is to subdivide an sell 2 lots and renovate the house. It'll be the first time we can do the whole thing without resorting to any lines of credit.

[Surface]

I finally found an investment that I (and my wife) are comfortable with. We are buying another property as an investment. It's a 4 bedroom house on 1-1/2 ac lot. The plan is to subdivide an sell 2 lots and renovate the house. It'll be the first time we can do the whole thing without resorting to any lines of credit.

Good for you! Sounds like a great use of your retirement money.

As an FYI: Investment property is taxed at a different rate than residential. It may be wise to talk with a tax professional  if you haven't purchased yet.
It may be more tax friendly to have the property owned as an S-corp or as part of a trust.

[Jeff]

NEVER elect a senator President.

He wasn't elected.

[mkd]

Want to get 100 shares of TSLA in one account in order to do the options wheel. Unfortunately, slim pickings on what to sell in order to raise funds that wouldn't be at a loss.
 Many analysis targeting a greater than $2000 share price by 2025.

[Dan_AKA_ROY23]

Short term bear market rally in the early stages? I don't know.

Buy and don't get greedy. Take profits. I see a rally underway. FED minutes encouraging markets. Not as hawkish as feared, looking like 1/2 pt. hikes the next few months. Markets would be ok with that.

Some quality stocks got chitted on. Baby with the bath water. Falling tide sinks most boats. I have a growing watch list, watching stocks of strong companies that have incurred heavy losses recently. Proceed with caution...

[JParis]

I'm pretty well convinced any "rally" at this point will be a fools rally...

I think the bottom is "maybe" another 10-12%, possibly a bit more...

I've let my 401k be, it's been pretty brutalized but I'll leave it for the time being...

[mkd]

On an amount of capitol lost basis this crash has already been the worst in history. On a percentage basis, the S&P500 still has room to drop. Like another 40% as a worse case scenario maybe? NASDAQ lead the charge lower so maybe not much more downside there.
It all depends on which metric you use. I'm hearing the S&P P/E ratio is getting to 5 year average norms, which is encouraging. Recession is never(?) priced into forward P/E estimates, so sentiment will reign with volatility ahead.
i should go on CNBS; 200 words and listener left with no idea.  

[Dan_AKA_ROY23]

Good posts both JP and mkd. Not disagreeing. I emphasized a short term bear market rally. A short term trading opportunity, perhaps. During the majority of 2008 (1st 9 months before the chit storm fully ravaged its ugly head) there were plenty of powerful rallies. These were short term trading opps. Some serious money can be made. Its tricky, of course. The key is selling profits and not getting greedy (the stock(s) could still go higher, but you sell before the major fall).

But yeah, intermediate term doesn't seem promising. Long term (sorry, no one knows). Short term? That's the focus right now.

[mkd]

Good posts both JP and mkd. Not disagreeing. I emphasized a short term bear market rally. A short term trading opportunity, perhaps. During the majority of 2008 (1st 9 months before the chit storm fully ravaged its ugly head) there were plenty of powerful rallies. These were short term trading opps. Some serious money can be made. Its tricky, of course. The key is selling profits and not getting greedy (the stock(s) could still go higher, but you sell before the major fall).

But yeah, intermediate term doesn't seem promising. Long term (sorry, no one knows). Short term? That's the focus right now.

as Cassandra...er...Micheal Burry has been saying the biggest rallies in history have be on the downward slide.
Dead cat bounce.

[mkd]

Fund managers have as much money on the sidelines now as was the case in the 2001 era. Lots of dry powder out there.
 time the market or time in the market???

[mkd]

It's funny though, that although this is the case, the news is full of other, well, shit.
 

hmmmm. what is this 'news' thang you speak of?