What We’ve Accomplished in 2008

Wow, it’s hard to believe that 2008 will be relegated to the history books in just a few hours from now. Of course, I can’t say that I am going to miss this horrific year in the financial markets, and I suspect that you probably won’t have any problems turning the page and heading into 2009 either.

By now, we are all intimately familiar with the tremendous damage levied on so many stock portfolios. Many people saw millions of dollars evaporate into the financial ether this year, and I can only hope that you weren’t one of them.

Now I don’t want to go on and on about the problems we’ve had this year, as I’d rather focus on the positives. But let’s take a moment and reflect one last time on the market of 2008 by taking a look at a chart of the S&P 500.

Not a pretty picture, I grant you, but a picture that tells the hard truth about financial markets. That truth is this — markets can, and do, drop significantly from time to time, and in 2008 the time had come.

In the midst of all the wealth decay that occurred this year, there were some very bright spots — particularly if you were an Alert reader.

Here’s a short list of some of the things we’ve accomplished in this rough-and-tumble 2008.

• We told you about the "line in the sand" of 1,420 on the S&P 500. We said that if the index fell below this technical support level, then things could get real ugly — and boy, did they get ugly.

• We updated you every week on machinations of the bear market in equities, and the difficulties in the housing market. We warned you not to take too much risk with your money, and we reminded you that it was time to embrace the forgotten asset class that is cash.

• We profiled dozens of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in our ETF Talk series, which we’ll be continuing full speed ahead in 2009.

• We introduced our weekly video commentary on the markets, another feature that we’ll continue bringing to you next year.

• We presented you with some valuable, informative guest editorial content on life settlements from Fairway Capital President Kevin Yurkus (see below).

• We featured several entertaining, thought provoking and yes, even a bit controversial, outside editorials from one of my favorite commentators, Jim Woods. Jim’s unique take on politics, economics, the markets and a variety of other subjects sometimes ruffles a few feathers, but I dare say he never fails to deliver a great, thoughtful and stimulating read. We’ll hear more from Jim in 2009 as well.

Next week, we’ll cover what we have on tap for you in 2009, and I promise you — it’s going to top 2008!

So tonight, when you are ushering in the New Year, remember to celebrate the things we’ve accomplished together in 2008. And when you raise your glass and toast 2009, know that I will be holding my glass high and toasting you, the Alert reader, for allowing me to do what I love best, i.e., helping you protect and grow your wealth.

Happy New Year!

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