[Anja]

I see there are many here who seem to have a good knowledge of financial principles.

Would you lend me some advice on the direction of the stock market?

Here's the deal - I have, what is to me, a considerable amount of money in investments with a national bank.

This bank made a grievous error this Spring which cost me some money and since then I've seen a board full of similar complaints about unethical business practices. I closed my savings and checking accounts with them and went to a credit union. But I left my investents with the other bank because of the penalty issue. I think they mature in a year.

I won't be making much more money in my lifetime. And I have been rapidly losing what is, in my consideration, large amounts currently.

I wonder if I shoudn't just take it out and keep what I have. I've never been interested in making more. For me the investments were simply a safe place to store my money which had the pleasant side-effect of also increasing it.

Most of my acquaintances are saying, "No. Be patient. The market will rectify itself." But I'm not convinced. Mankind has a way of establishing "failproof systems" which do fail.

My husband says that if I take it out with the intent of retuning it when the market begins to stablize again that I will be "buying high." But I could consider the option of just sitting on it in future years. I have a reliable friend who would take care of it for me.

Now, I'm sure you guys must think I'm nuts. What I know about finances you could put in a thimble. But what I know about people tells me my money would be safe out of the bank.

When I get advice to leave it in I feel sort of like someone telling me, as I get on the Titanic, that we won't be needing so many lifeboats.

What are some perspectives on this?