[masraum]

I'm a rank novice at financial stuff, so this is my $.002 worth.

To me it seems like there are a few options, and I don't know that any are better than the other, they're just different.

Since you say you're not retiring any time soon, it seems you aren't too worried about a hit now since you should have time for them to come back up before you are ready. You could go the ultra conservative route and get bonds or something that has a slow steady interest rate, but I believe that inflation is expected to rear it's head, and that isn't good for investments that are slow and stable.

You could go with stocks assuming that what you're buying now while the market is low will go up at some point (who knows how long that will take) which could be really nice in the long run.

You could go with something like precious metals. My understanding is that when the market is bear that precious metals do well.

I think the problem is that it depends upon what sort of investor you are, how much risk are you willing to accept vs how aggressive you want to be.

I'm not a gambler, and I'm fairly young, 38. But I'm prepared to be more aggressive.

Like I said, I'm a Novice, but I'm trying to educate myself. I just wish I had started sooner.

I'm interested to see what some of the more experienced guys think about your question.

Also, if anything that I've said is way off base, someone please let me know.