Quote from spindr0:
Emotionally, it's a very hard thing to do but one should buy the market when one feels absotetely the worst about it.
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There's an adage that basically says if the market doesn't fall on bad news it's worth a second look. This happened continually last year. Bad news = market up, there were numerous threads on this. This is not certainty but could be a reason to buy without emotion.
You need to have your own indicators to make you feel comfortable to buy when the market tanks.
I'm sure it makes a world of difference in how you are positioned going into a decline and how soon you get back in. If you sold at the bottom, one is not to keen on re entering anytime soon.