Death by Dow

I am not a cardiologist. Just speaking for the millions of individual investors who have been in the market during ups and downs, and who – over time – have put more and more of their assets into equities. These are the folks who enjoy taking risks, but not off-the-wall ones. They are also the ones who are the best candidates for heart attacks on really bad days.

They are people whose memories are probably pretty shot, quickly forgetting the downs (when they wonder out loud to whomever will listen why they didn’t get out two, three hundred points higher) and who brag about their returns and all the money they are making. These same folks are always surprised and not a little scared when they hang in during downturns, regardless of their severity, knowing that things will get better. Or so they think. Until the market really hits the skids – like today. Then when the market goes down 400+ on the Dow (and let’s not even talk about the others), they begin to fret. Worse, they begin to feel tightness in their chests.

I will bet – having already waged my fortune in the market – that there are far more heart attacks on a day like today than on any ordinary day. Death by Dow is a lousy way to go. This really is a crap game, and even when you know it – even when you think you have it all in the right perspective – something like this happens and you drop dead. Forget Lipitor (though now statins may kill you in other ways), forget exercise; if you want to stay well, get out of the market.