Have these people not gone through enough bear market crashes? I know Scat has, I'm sure some of the others have too, but many act as if they've never gone through any. I lost my ass in the 87' crash, but 60% cash in the 2000 crash protected me, and 75% cash in 2008 was very nice indeed. So, it shows I learned a lesson as time went on. I understand the buy regularly and for the long term mentality, but I also believe in the buy as much as you can in bear markets and sell more and more as the market gets higher and higher. Not everyone should be market timers, though. My father has done very well holding through every bear market in the last 40 years, but he also knew bear market crashes were going to happen...he was prepared to be patient. He just believed it's too difficult to time the market anyway, you have to be right twice...when to get out and when to get back in. I now know Simple is going to go all cash when he gets to the million dollar level, but what if he gets to the 900k mark and then loses over half? It will feel like starting over again. I'm just saying it's possible and be prepared. Good luck to all that are long and strong!
Excellent post, Sir answering your question in quote ........ Use ET search engine and go back as far as it allows to prev. tops/bottoms. You better sit down or hold the railing. It is time consuming research which is why NOBODY here will ever take the time. Therein lies the easiest explanation for why 95% traders fail. They show up for a gunfight with a stick. But you will gain incredibly valuable research into the Herd instinct and how the Herd is ALWAYS wrong at every major top/bottom. Its akin to getting a Phd. in Herd psychology and Mechanics. Counterintuitive is the fact that ET deals with both TA and FA and they do this day in and day out, YET they always get a turn WRONG and therefore on the wrong side of the market. Start with the thread below, its a live thread run by Mr. Burke. But go to the beginning in 2007 and see for youself how the ones bellowing thru' a megaphone how easy money comes your way every damn day in the markets - got destroyed systematically murdered by SPX. Then go to the sistine chapel and pray for Mr. Burke (Rickshaw Man) https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/gotta-love-zero-risk-in-the-sp500.85694/unread