Are there any anti-stock bugs over the age of 47?

roadrunner

These are people who would have lived through the lousy stock market of 1966 - 1982. And saw coins do very well for half of this era.

Just asking.

roadrunner

yellowjacket

My money's been in coins since 1974.

Garrow

CarlWohlforth

I started investing in stocks in 1984.

curly

About 1972 I started investing in real estate, stocks and CDs. I retired in 2005. I sold my last piece of real estate in 2006 and dumped the CDs as they came due. I still own stocks as I believe the ability to own stocks is what makes America great. I know some of you brothers think the stock market is a big scam but it's treated ol' curly pretty good and I can only judge the market on how it's treated me.

I've been a coin collector since 1964.

Lakesammman

I lived through it but missed it entirely since I didn't have any money then to invest. I'm "all in" currently but in a diversified way.

Deadhorse

Raised hand here.

I figure I'm just not smart enough to deal with Wall Street.

roadrunner

If a hunk of the physical Wall Street were available I might buy that.
At least it would be tangible! It could be slabbed by the leading street certification business: "ASS" (asphalt scientific services).

Count me in too. Stocks treated me very badly from 1966 to 1987.
It's always left a bad taste in my mouth and is very similar to those who lived through the depression and never could relearn to trust banks. But at least coins did ok from 1970-1980, 1983 to 1990. And now 1997-date.
I do agree that everything has its time...even growth stocks. I also realize that most of the gain in assets since 1971 is from inflation alone (excess printed/electronic money). Without it, most of those stock market and coin gains would vanish. The wealth of the nation cannot be transferred from Joe Sixpack to the Banks, brokerages, and large corporations without inflation.....hence the "need" for it.

With 6 years to go until I can touch my 401K, I suppose it will be ravaged by then. At least I know that the gold shares I do have will offset some of the growth stock carnage that I must endure.

roadrunner

jmski52

At this moment, I am looking at the money invested my IRA and my SEP-IRA from the standpoint of market risk, and inflation. I just got my annual social security statement. If inflation takes a bite out of these investments every year from now until I retire, I must count on stock returns over 20% in order to feel comfortable.

Social Security will be there - it just won't be worth anything. I'm deciding whether or not to pull everything out of mutual funds so that I can find a nice self-directed IRA, or even pull the money out of my retirement accounts and take the 10% penalty now. One hit is better than a thousand.

TwoSides2aCoin

I bought in to stocks and lost my socks. I still have my underwear.

InYHWHWeTrust

My father started working for a well known paint co. in 1963 and maxed his stock purchase each paycheck (7% of his paycheck) which the company matched 1:1 until he retired in 1988. (He then started his own business (floor-covering) and just sold it this year at age 67). The accumulation during that bear market came to fruition during the Reagan years when this solid company stock split many times over. Our family enjoyed a wonderful, yet modest lifestyle as he balanced saving/spending and living within our means. I will never do as well as he has financially as far as absolute numbers. His patience, determination, balance and making use of that company benefit (helps being in a strong company, too) taught me a lot.

The company changed its worldview in the mid 80s, so he chose to retire start & start his own business, and found different holdings to move his company stock into during this past era (no, he doesn't know what a dot com is )

Don

edited to add: he never bought gold (yet) either but I may convince him to own a little before it's all over. Probably not.