Dow above 17,500, up 3% in last 5 days of trading.

[yellowcanine]

http://money.cnn.com/data/markets/dow/

[whatthehey]

1. Yep; everybody seems to forget volatility swings both ways

It's not two months ago that DU doomers were gleefully posting multiple threads about the DJIA plummet (it's always a plummet when it drops but never an equally colorful antonym when it rises for some reason) form its 2016 start of 17150 give or take. Funnily enough they stopped posting about the market much lately. I said then it would come back. I say now it will both drop (sorry, plummet) again, and then rise yet again, but that over time the predictable CAGR will continue. Kunstlerite claptrap about a collapse to 6000 or whatever will remain a doomer wet dream.

[yellowcanine]

2. People with balanced 401K portfolios should not fear volatility.

You can choose your risk level then choose to have your portfolio rebalanced every year on your birthday. While you are still working and contributing there is no good reason to fear drops - even steep drops. Your contributions buy more stock when that happens and when it comes back as it always does the gains are greater than before. Even after one starts taking distributions one should still plow unneeded distributions back into the mix and continue the rebalancing. Maybe shift the balance a little into fixed investments and cash vs. stocks but not that much - I plan to still keep 40-50% stock.

[6chars]

3. what matters is what it's worth when you retire / sell

[winstars]

4. Thanks OBAMA!!!