Well? This Q. really should go into the Morningstar: Gen MFnd Board and if for Retirement? > M*Retirement Discussion Board

1. If your still following what all these "Self Appointed - Alledged Pro's" are saying in the papers,Books , Mags and CNBC? Then me thinks ? > You Ain't ready for Prime time...

Meaning? I think one should Have as much of there "Ducks Lined up" way before Dumping their $ in... and not Go thru the Guessing Game..and You know what they say about "Hope  and Wish in One and Poop in the other ,see which fills up First..."

and Please. Take this Personally..LOL You and I are sitting at the Bar having a Heiniken...and your Buying..

So, the Big Q? Why did you invest in the funds you have now?

For a Retirement and Preservation of Capital in mind..?

And Did you compare them  to : ( And I Ain't No Indexer either , just use them for Comparisions )

A. A Comparable Group of Index Funds &  same Mix..?

B. The Top 10% or better Funds by M* and Lipper for the past 8 & 10 yrs?( and not less)

C. And the good Old Standby> VWELX or VWINX funds?

D. Adding my choices of FPACX,OAKBX,PRWCX and PRPFX funds( AMBF's )

IMO about Target Funds? marginal at best.. Why? Not proven in a Bear market yet and even then, they don't do anybetter than other Index or their own Family of A bal. fund. and I think they are a CON GAME just to keep all your $ in their Co...misleading yoou to think they will do better with it, vs owning competitive Funds/Co.'s..

Apparently? Your just stuck for now.. Ride it out, take your Lumps and Hope they get back to Even in the next End of Yr or next Yr.. and Then make the Moves..

This Down market is Prime time to test One's risk Deviation.. If your Nervous now? You best move things into those (a) Bal. Index Ports  or (b) AMBF's

Bonds?  Sure, Fido has a few Decent ones, Like the Fidelity H.Yld Floating rate Fund, but add LSBRX to the Mix as well..

And who the hell told you to Add More Int'l? Did you ck and see How " well" that sector did in the Last Bear Yrs of 00 thru 1st qtr of 03'?..Oh, I know..Everyone was touting this..Buy more Int'l..since it has had a Great Run for the past 5 yrs!  Boy, that was a set up if ever saw one.. Like the Tech Days of the late 90's.....LOL

Int'l went DOWN ThE TUBES by over -60% in the last Bear(00-1st qtr of 03' )! So waht if it gained +100% Since... Do the math> @ per $10,000 - 60% = $4,000 bal + 100% = A whole whopping $8,000 Left... Your still down -$2,000 aren't you?

Unless of course, if your one of the top10% that can "Market Time" and Buy in 1st Qtr of 03' and Ride the wave thru 07' and sold again in Late 07' and are ready to bottom feed and buy back in ...LOL

I got out of that Guessing Game way back in late 98' and after beating myself up for 20 yrs prior, playing with everything under the Sun... From Indexes to Stocks..

And just put my retirement $ into those AMBF's and Only Continued to Play with any$ I had left over, that wasn't needed in my RP ( retirementport)..

Equities? Sure-- Knock yourself out on them.. But if you can't take a -20% Hit? I don't advise them... Or play with some proven Safer Harbor ones in the last Bear Yrs..Like BRUFX,CGMFX,CGMRX,FAIRX,FLVCX. and Hope for the best..

And yes, Hold, wait till get even and In the meantime? Do some homework and prepare for when you can sell what you got and move it, accordingly..

Exepct the next 2-3 mos to Be Flat to Worse?  OMG ! but, guess what?
It's been like this since The Beginning of Time! ie: The 2nd and 3rd qtrs are always Poor to Flat -85% of the Time!  Just ck the Main Indexes and Other Funds By Qtrly rtns...

The Big $ guys Plan All this out... And we little guys are Just Along for the Ride..

and BTW.. I've gone up agains some of the best Financial Investment Management Firms with Their vs My Ports based upon the past 8 & 10 yrs... And guess who won?( Hell, most of them wouldn't even provide how theirs did during that time, Think they were hiding something? Just Alittle ? Maybe?  LOL )

They HATE AMBF's... !  Gee, I wonder why? LOL

Maybe it's because? If you can do as well or better in AMBF's, paying ave of same kind of Fees of from 1-2%, what the hell do you need a Investment Firm for?

Only if they provide some "insider" trades and Bonus's from time to time and not get caught..Otherwise, Forget about it!

Of course, if you Want or Need to make more than those AMF's I mmentioned( or others like them) ? Then I guess you just have to go to "Vegas" and try your Luck..

But, keep in mind> "The House Eventually always Wins" and We  Loose..

Good Luck!