[Johnny Shear]

OK...I'll take this opportunity to ask for some friendly advice from some fellow Freepers...

I'm 37. I don't have too much saved yet but I'll currently putting about 10,000 into my 401K annually plus matching. I've got a basic 401K with basic options ranging from very conservative to very aggressive...The standard options...S&P 500, International Stock, American Growth Funds, etc...(I won't pretend to know what all these mean past "Aggresive, Moderate and Conservative").

So, where should my money be (I'm pretty much 100% Aggressive now)? I'll be in the market for another 20-25 years and hopefully contributing this much until at least I have have to pay for college or something (20 years away).

Thanks in advance for any basic or detailed information past what I can read in my 401K booklet...In other words, don't be afraid to give specific information...I won't hold it against you! ;)

[galt-jw]

buy bonds.

[galt-jw]

the average pe is way too high...stocks may still correct... bobbrinker.com says a pe of 44 or 45 avg. is more in line...you have more folks than ever in the market, and the price of stocks is way up. so, with aaa rated govt. bonds, who run the scheme, cause they can control the money supply, you are more assured of security, even if it is only 6% or so. see what warren buffet is doing. only my opinion.

[habs4ever]

You have to tale a LONG view on your retirement funds, and only equities will allow you to participate in the growth, over time, of the US economy.Timing is important on purchasing mutual funds, but its probably closer to a bottom now than it was 2 yrs ago, and if you plan on working another 30 yrs, well, what do swings on a month by month basis matter??

It is important also to remember very few great stocks stay great through several bull market cycles, as much as the CEO's of their companies would like you to believe, so what counts in your company stock plan is what is ACTUALLY happening to the stock performance.If the market says your stock is a dog, well, the market is right :-)Your money is too important to fritter away on sentimentality, and the investment world is a hard taskmaster for those that forget such simple truths.It is better to be in cash doing nothing than to invest in dogs.