<p>Well lets see how it works out. I have accts that are strictly dividend stocks which from time to time, I write calls and also sell some puts. Other accts that are just options and an account that I only sell puts. This account was a savings acct earning <1% which I figured I could beat pretty easily selling puts. The account was opened in February and I’m up 3.2% - I’m pretty confident that by the end of the year I will easily beat that 1% and I have some possibility of beating the market as a whole unless its up > 10%.</p>
<p>"“We panicked several years ago when the market tanked and our stocks were worth one-third less,” says Arlene. “With some knuckle-biting, we stayed the course. When our stocks regained their value this past year, we sold most of them and put the funds into less-risky investments. We were relieved to have our money back.”"</p>
<p>I would like to know what less risky investments there are other than a savings account that with 100% certainty is losing purchasing power.</p>
<p>I guess people have been putting money into bond funds and gold - they don’t seem so safe to me. Maybe a bond ladder where the bonds are held to maturity? Anybody have some good suggestions?</p>
<p>Interestingly, Doug Kass of Seabreeze Partners was on cnbc touting his biggest position ever - shorting bonds and increasing his exposure over the last 4 days to stocks.</p>
<p>I usually like Kass, but he believes up 9% over the rest of year,not straight up though…i don’t see it,though with the Fed’s implicit backing, i could be wrong</p>
<p>I think he’s saying a lot more than 9% based on a number of factors. He’s expecting housing to significantly rebound and add to gdp. His forecast is out from 3 - 9 months.</p>
<p>With the S&P 500 trading (adjusted for the drop in stock futures this morning) at a near-9% discount to my fair market value calculation of 1485, investors should buy in May and go away.</p>
<p>I am under no illusion that the U.S. stock market is poised for a move straight up to the Promised Land – rather I expect an irregular grind to higher levels. Given the technical damage and the ambiguous domestic economic releases, we likely need confirmation of my view of a self-sustaining recovery in additional data points.</p>
<p>Lol…12,000 before 13,500…Kass is wrong…China lies about its numbers, Greece is in the toilet, Germany is beng taken to the woodshed, volume continues to decline,…the big question is will the small investor come back,and i don’t think they will anytime soon…</p>
<p>The experts say the market can continue foward because the retail investors are not yet back in,cash on the sidelines,blah,blah,blah…and if they think that will be the impetus,they will be wrong…</p>
<p>And the markets rise of 100% is built on some good numbers by companies, but jore so on the Fed’s backing and crummy interst rates forcing people into the stock market</p>