regular investors - are you sticking it out in this market?

[zinemama]

If you are a regular investor - to college funds, IRAs, etc. - are you continuing to invest in these funds during this downturn? Or are you stashing those monthly contributions elsewhere till things look up?

[milletpuff]

The only money I have invested in mutual funds/"the market" is my long term retirement savings, which I won't need to access for 30+ years, so heck yes I am. In fact, I am upping my contributions slightly. I do feel like it will probably get a little worse before it gets better, but I am not super concerned about the direct effects of the stock market on my immediate investments.

I have more short-term savings (emergency fund) in a cash savings acct. I do not have any mid-length savings needs right now (saving for a car/downpayment/education).

[EviesMom]

We've been still putting money into retirement and college funds although ours aren't that extensive to date; keeping emergency money out of other investments for the time being; and not investing for the sake of investing right now. I don't know if we'd be doing anything except regular investments differently if things were different in the economy.

[Herausgeber]

Yes, we are upping contributions. This is like a garage sale.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by Herausgeber

Yes, we are upping contributions. This is like a garage sale.

: Both taxable and tax-deferred investments.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by Herausgeber

Yes, we are upping contributions. This is like a garage sale.

Exactly!

DH and I have been talking about putting another $10,000 in by the end of the year, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

[katheek77]

Yep. We're continuing to invest at our normal pace, both in IRAs and DD's college fund. (We do regular mutual funds toward the end of the year, after IRAs are maxed).

Was I the only one who was somewhat excited when the market fell yesterday? Our monthly contributions go through end of day on the 15th, so, I was kind of stoked about that....For whatever reason, in the past, it always seemed to be climbing up through the 15th, then falling on the 16th. My first thought was "Sale!" If it's going to fall, might as well be on the 15th!

[zinemama]

Hm. Maybe I am just not looking at the long term. It doesn't distress you to see your balance continue to plummet on those monthly statements?

[katheek77]

Originally Posted by zinemama

Hm. Maybe I am just not looking at the long term. It doesn't distress you to see your balance continue to plummet on those monthly statements?

Me, not so much. DH, yes.

It would distress me more to NOT put the money in now, and be kicking myself five/ten years from now about how I SHOULD have put money in before the market started climbing back up again.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by zinemama

Hm. Maybe I am just not looking at the long term. It doesn't distress you to see your balance continue to plummet on those monthly statements?

Nope. Because I can buy low and sell high. I want it to be low when I do my big buying. That way whenever I go to take money out, many, many years from now it'll be worth soooo much more than I paid into it. But yes, I am looking at the long term.

[TiredX2]

Yes, we are continuing to invest. Same amounts. We've already maxed our IRAs for the year, though, so no more there.

Originally Posted by zinemama

Hm. Maybe I am just not looking at the long term. It doesn't distress you to see your balance continue to plummet on those monthly statements?

Yeah, it is upsetting. But I can't let that stop me. Over and over the best course has been to just let it ride. I mean, if you know that you are in some horrible *individual* stock, yeah, get out of there. But if your asset allocation was right for you 12 months ago, it's still "right" for you.

[milletpuff]

No, it doesn't bother me. In fact, when the market was going up really fast around this time last year, I was distressed because all I could see was the impending crash! Now I think I see the impending growth more than the immediate loss, even if that growth takes a while to materialize. I've got a while!

[milletpuff]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

But if your asset allocation was right for you 12 months ago, it's still "right" for you.

Yes! Exactly!

[dillonandmarasmom]

Thanks for this thread. DH has held off on contributing much to his IRA since our budget had been pretty tight for a couple of years. Now is the time to up contributions to the max matching amount!

[annethcz]

Yes, we're continuing to invest at our previous rate. It does concern me to some extent, but I know that based on historical patterns, we're doing the right thing.

[Belleweather]

Originally Posted by Herausgeber

Yes, we are upping contributions. This is like a garage sale.

Yup. I'm investing for long term growth, so he better part of my raise is going straight into the market. My bonus would go there too, except that I've already committed to spending it on our first family vacation.

I am thinking of reallocating a bit to focus less on blue chips and more on mid and small caps for the non-international part of my portfolio, but it would be a pretty minor allocation change -- and more about where I think the good deals may be than "OMG PANIC!"

[msjd123]

Normally, we'd continue our usual habits of contributing to our IRA's and 403b's, but because of some unexpected and expensive home repairs (one word: MOLD! : ) we'll be sitting 2009 out just so we can rebuild our emergency fund. I'm actually kind of bummed about not contributing, so I'll probably try to sneak a few bucks in here and there if some extra money comes our way. We have to rebuild our savings, though, so that will be our priority.

[That Is Nice]

Subscribe.

I've been thinking about this issue for the past few months, but, certainly today, I'm thinking about it more and more.

I'm just not sure...is anyone?

[neetling]

I would if we had any extra cash

[mommyoftwo]

Yes we have monthly contributions that are auto-deducted for our kid's college fund and our retirement.

We have solid, diverse portfolios and we are investing for the long term. I honestly believe that now is not the time to panic even though we are seeing some loss.

On the other hand, I am a bit concerned about my parents and my IL's who are heavily invested in the market and will need the money sooner rather than later.