We are posed to test this year's lows:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/futures-green-paulson-press-conference/

7000 on the Dow seems probable, 5000 possible.

Yeah! Finish remodeling my house so I can utilize it, lose my job and live in a cardboard box.  Wahooo!

Most of the articles I read state that you shouldn't try to time the market and that you should stay in stocks and ride it out. I disagree to some extent. With some fundamental knowledge of finance and the markets you can time it close enough to not lose a great deal of money and still get in on the upswings. In January of this year, I moved my 401K and other investments out of stock funds and into short term investments and bonds. (I didn't pull out of my 401K. I just changed the investment choices.) This downturn has affected bond funds as well as stock funds so it's been hard on everyone but I've avoided any great losses. A friend of mine stayed in stock funds and has lost 46 percent of his 401K. Unfortunately, it seems a bit unfair to expect everyone to acquire enough financial acumen that he or she can navigate this market and still have a retirement fund. You can't be an expert at everything, right?

And what about those who are willing to work their butts off, scrimp, save, and still have no retirement fund.  I really feel for some of these people.