Dow High, Spirits Low
Perhaps I’m wrong in my reaction, but I’m not happy with the recent closing records for the Dow Jones industrial average. Seeing as how I’ve just started contributions to my retirement plan, I’m more interested in seeing lower closings and working up to higher closing over time.
Perhaps I have a poor understanding, most likely the case, of how these closing will affect retirement investments. While I have an optimistic outlook on the life of my investments, current peaks leave me worried that I’m currently buying in at a time that will, of course (in my mind), go down soon. Yes, I know that I will be making continual contributions in funds and that will, in the long run, balance my investments – but still. I’ve just entered into this investment and already am personally forecasting lowered returns in the short term. This is only relevant in terms of emotional security as I continue to struggle to be comfortable my smaller paycheck; if I’m struggling to accept the long term value of the investment, I’m sure it’d be easier if it didn’t feel like I was entering the game near a peak of a downward climb.
Of course to further recognize my lack of overall knowledge – I’ve not yet looked at where the general trend has been the past year or two and realize that record breaking may not be as relevant if the Dow has consistently been in a higher bracket over the past year+. I could look it up, but I’m stealing internet breaks between conference workshops as is.