"Although I wouldn't want my money in the US market after around 2008 (or probably even earlier)..."

Why is that?

Here's what I am thinking...

Pull out just before 2008. Watch the stock price drop and then buy up again.

If you are buying and holding for long term, does it really matter that much what the stock will do in the short term?

I know you don't want to lose a whole bunch of value for nothing - which is why I said to sell just before. But once the stock goes down, doesn't that mean there will be a lot of bargains to be had?

And the stock going down doesn't necessarily mean the underlying business is buggered, does it?

I mean... coke's price might drop but that's not going to stop people buying coke, is it?

And wouldn't the same logic then apply to the other stocks?

I don't know. That's why I am asking.

Michael Ross