personally in both 1999 and 2007 I observed some people made a k

in stock market, but within a year, they lost all the gains and 50% of their principals. To make things worse, they got hurt so bad that they cashed out and closed the accounts, swore never went back, thus totally missed the ralliesafterwards.

Since last November, the stock market have been in bull market.  The housing markets, at least in California, Phenix and DC areas, seem on the track of recovering.  However, just like 如山 pointed out, we gotta have 足夠防範.