Quite a nice thread you got started here :). I’d say that the best advice was to talk to a financial planner, but as Rich pointed out, that can be fraught with problems, but like previous posters said, they will be able to look at your present situation and advise you accordingly, which nobody here did before giving advice (me included)
The most important thing I wished I’d asked was whether you had any debt (high interest car loans, credit cards, etc.)
There are three things you MUST do before investing:
1. Pay off your debt
2. Pay off your debt
3. Pay off your debt
If you don’t have any debt, then great, either read all you can about investing and prepare to spend alot of time researching (you really have to enjoy doing the research to do it well) and/or go to a financial planner.
One other bit of advice I can give with no knowledge of your present situation: If Vegas sounds like your type of vacation, don’t even think about doing it yourself, get a planner and listen to them.
Powayseller,
Although I also hold your negative view about the market, Like the housing market, I think it’s virtually impossible to time when it will fail (or if). I think there are a few good values out there now that have popped up since Buffet made that statement, and even he has been buying up stock lately. If you find a good value, it’s usually a good value no matter what the market does in general. Now maybe that thinking will end up with me holding a sign out on Nobel and Genesee, and if it does and the market tanks, please stop by and give me a dollar or two.
