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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Personal Finance / Retirement Investing
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Author: richinmd   😊 😞
Number: of 1355 
Subject: Re: Protecting the Downside
Date: 10/08/25 5:45 PM
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No. of Recommendations: 4

I don't mind timing. Over at Bogleheads some people there act as if you decided to play Russian roulette. No one can get the exact top or bottom but at times the playing board tilts in certain directions and you need to play the odds and will often do well.

For example I thought it was clear that international stocks and gold would do well. One reason being that it was obvious the current administration wanted to devalue the dollar. It was stated multiple times. Or when interest rates got near 0%, it made zero sense to lock in those rates via treasuries. Some people learned the hard way that bond funds go down, sometimes significantly when rates go up.

I don't see it as a problem and reducing stock investments to 25-40% at times. I have mostly ETFs (SP500, NASDAQ, international) but also some stocks like Google, BRK, etc.

I don't know how much longer it will continue but I looked at my numbers and despite being conservative with my investments and spending a bit more than expected, my portfolio is up over 10% over the last couple of years. Obviously it would have been much higher if I wasn't spending it down or if I was 100% in stocks but at this age, I have no plans to do that short of winning/inheriting a bunch of money.

Thanks
Rich
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This community has written 1,284 posts about Retirement Investing. The article-length ones it recommended most:
The Case for Long-Term Buy and Hold Investing · 49 recs · 2025
Transferring assets to the next generation · 20 recs · 2025
Retirement Year 8 · 17 recs · 2025
(nearly) year one of retirement has been good · 11 recs · 2026
Buying Treasuries Via Vanguard · 10 recs · 2023
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