OK, just a couple more comments..to keep it real.
The nasdaq was down alot in october 2002 and then it preceded to nearly double the following year...
Yes, but it still hasn't gotten even close to it's highs of 5,000 (now 2162).
When something goes down 78%, it has to go up 350% just to get back to where it was. 5,000 high, down to around 1100 (1114, October 9, 2002). Currently 2162, still a long way to go.
I know that we will never see 5,000 Naz in my lifetime (maybe yours, LOL).
I say the same things to the bulls as I do to the bears..." Trade em, Don't marry them" - being opinionated is the one major flaw that causes traders to fail.
FWIW, stocks go down more quickly than they rise...very simple principal...traders prefer to collect money (or lock in profits) than to spend it. We hear about the "long haul" but timing is so important...how long a "haul" will it be for those who bought the Naz near 5,000....??
Don't forget that when the say 8% average annual return for the Dow since the early 1900's .... you couldn't buy the "Dow" you had to buy all 30 stocks.....and you would have gone broke with 29 of the 30...I'm pretty sure that GE is the only original Dow component...(maybe a merger or something, but not original companies).
Don't fall prey to the Stockbrokers who generally make you "broker".
IMHO.
Don