When will the stock market stop going down and start up again? If we knew that wed all be jillionaires. So what do you do now while stocks are going down and stealing away your money every day?

What does history tell us? Here is one very interesting fact. From 1920 to 2000 there were 3 bull markets that lasted about 16 years each. It seems the most recent one ended at the end of 1999. What is most scary about this is that after these long bull markets each one was followed by another period when the stock market went down or sideways for another 16 years. Look on the bright side. We only have 14 more years to wait for the next bull market.

Wait a minute

Wall Street has been telling us this is only a correction and now is the time to buy. What do you think they are going to tell you? They have stocks to sell and must make commissions or they will be out of business. Someone has to buy that stuff and guess who got picked? Right. You.

There are only a couple of safe places. A government-backed money market fund or some government short to intermediate bonds that will pay you about 5%. Unfortunately, too many people still think the stock market is going to make new high prices, but it aint gonna happen. The smartest thing you can do is protect your money from further depreciation. If you dont take action now you will see your money disappear at about 10% to 20% (maybe more) over the next couple of years. I know your broker said the market always comes back. Well, I hope it does - in your lifetime. But you have to be smart enough to protect what you have right now.

The few wise men of Wall Street who speak the truth Sir John Templeton, Warren Buffet and a few others have said you will be lucky to make 5% over the next few years. To me that means you can be safely in bonds and sleep at night.

The great secret of success in the stock market is not buying; it is selling. Any fool can buy, but unless you know when to sell you are in trouble. Go thru the stocks and mutual funds you own right now and ask yourself this question: Would I buy this puppy now? If the answer is NO then the best thing to do is sell it and put your money in something that will not depreciate over the next 14 years.

Rule one: Dont lose money. What are you doing to protect yours?

Al Thomas

Albert W. Thomas has spent most of his life in the field of finance. In 1965 he founded an insurance holding company, Security Dynamics Investment Corporation, after having been an agent and General Agent for several life insurance companies. In 1970 he became cofounder and president of Real Life Estate, Inc., that marketed a unique real estate and life insurance package.

After he became interested in commodities he bought a seat for his personal trading on the Chicago Open Board of Trade, which is now known as the MidAmerica Commodity Exchange. Later he became a full time trader and also acted as a commodity broker for a few select clients. By fellow floor traders Al is considered to be an excellent technical analyst much of which is outlined in his book IF IT DOESN'T GO UP, DON'T BUY IT! It became a best seller on Amazon.

In 1981 he sold his membership on the Exchange and with his wife, Carolyn, lived full time aboard their 41' ketch, the Aumakua (which means guardian angel in Hawaiian). They sailed in Florida and the Bahamas for two years.

He founded World Trading Group in 1984 that grew to the seventh largest introducing commodity brokerage firm in the U.S. with 35 offices from coast to coast, Alaska and Canada. It was sold in 1992.

Al is a graduate of Northwestern University with a B.S. degree in Commerce and is a member of MENSA. He is now president of Williamsburg Investment Company that syndicates his weekly financial column since 1999 to more than 300 newspapers and writes a financial market letter called Over My Shoulder that is quoted in Barron?s and many other publications. A 3-month trial subscription is available on his web site. He is a regular guest on several financial radio talk shows.

His favorite pastime is fishing.

Mr. Thomas is available for speaking engagements. Please call 321-453-5300 for more information.