[quote=ocrenter][quote=AN][quote=ocrenter][quote=AN][quote=njtosd]But we have been very lucky – our life events (birth of children, job changes) have coincided very well with the market.[/quote]I believe this is the most important factor of all. If your life events coincides with market cycle, then success tend to come much easier than if your life event doesn’t coincide with the market cycle.[/quote]

Well… As we can all atest to, one can manipulate life events to coincide with market cycle…[/quote]
Yes, it’s possible and I’ve done it. But it requires you to be aware of such cycle and modify your life events. Most people are not aware of such cycle and/or have no desire to learn about such cycle. For those majority, when you’re born and when your life event make a huge difference.[/quote]

That is why so many people use “fate” and “god’s plans” to excuse themselves from having to pay attention and be aware and make the necessary modifications.[/quote]

In our case, we had our second child shortly after 9/11, and housing prices were down. Even I wouldn’t claim to have been able to manipulate that (well at least 9/11).