Collectibles Markets vs Economy - Why does it have to be this way?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by raulus

Apologies if this is viewed as political...but

I would posit that it's theoretically impossible to be at the opposite end of the political spectrum from me. Because I'm about as middle as they come these days. Unless, of course, there's something that is the opposite of the middle!

I suppose that's a rather self-imposed identification, and you may beg to differ, but I'll cling to it anyway.

I believe I am at the opposite end. Saying you are in the middle says you at least care. I can tell you the governor of the state I live in and the president. I cannot name a single other politician currently in any office/position. I don't have a clue who the vice president is nor do I care.

[Smarti5051]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I don't have a clue who the vice president is nor do I care.

In fairness, I think the current president might say the same thing.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Smarti5051

In fairness, I think the current president might say the same thing.

Ha! Now that's funny on a couple of levels.

[ValKehl]

FWIW (maybe not much) the S&P 500 is up more than 17% YTD. Not all is doom and gloom.

[theshowandme]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

FWIW (maybe not much) the S&P 500 is up more than 17% YTD. Not all is doom and gloom.

Val is looking at the right numbers.

Keep buying, put your $ to work on an automated schedule, and look once or twice a year for fun.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Val is looking at the right numbers.

Keep buying, put your $ to work on an automated schedule, and look once or twice a year for fun.

You know it's only a few stocks pulling the index?

Going to be the same as the card maket. It's human nature.

Zombie companies and fair weather traders, the modern, mid grade star cards and stubble beards begin to exit

Mass panic ensues, people.on margin or credit cards, those that need to sell or need the cash for some better deal/stock start a cascade of selling

Good companies ie the Mantles and Cobbs start to decline


People see value, and start to bid them up.


Rinse and repeat

We can argue where we are on the timeline, but at no time will it "be different "

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

We can argue where we are on the timeline, but at no time will it "be different "

"It's different this time!!!!" - Every time, by everyone

Well, assuming the two of us (and our similar minded friends) count as someone, then not literally everyone. But just about.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

FWIW (maybe not much) the S&P 500 is up more than 17% YTD. Not all is doom and gloom.

I contribute to my 401k. 31% to be exact. You can say the S&P is up. I am STILL in the hole from my peak around 4 years ago, under a different administration. And that is with me steady dumping 31% a year. Yes, I am glad the market is up this year. Yes, we are still in the hole. Those are facts.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I contribute to my 401k. 31% to be exact. You can say the S&P is up. I am STILL in the hole from my peak around 4 years ago, under a different administration. And that is with me steady dumping 31% a year. Yes, I am glad the market is up this year. Yes, we are still in the hole. Those are facts.

Robert, I don't see how you can be in the hole if you have been investing in broad-based mutual funds. Here's how the S&P 500 has done over the time frame you mention. Soryy that my copy-and-paste effort didn't turn out well. The annual % change is the far right column.

S&P 500 Index - Historical Annual Data

Year Average
Closing Year Open Year High Year Low Year Close Annual
Price % Change
2023 4,234.16 3,824.14 4,588.96 3,808.10 4,495.70 17.09%
2022 4,097.49 4,796.56 4,796.56 3,577.03 3,839.50 -19.44%
2021 4,273.41 3,700.65 4,793.06 3,700.65 4,766.18 26.89%
2020 3,217.86 3,257.85 3,756.07 2,237.40 3,756.07 16.26%
2019 2,913.36 2,510.03 3,240.02 2,447.89 3,230.78 28.88%

[raulus]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I contribute to my 401k. 31% to be exact. You can say the S&P is up. I am STILL in the hole from my peak around 4 years ago, under a different administration. And that is with me steady dumping 31% a year. Yes, I am glad the market is up this year. Yes, we are still in the hole. Those are facts.

Somewhat paradoxically, we all should root for a gigantic bear market during our working years, followed by a raging bull market when we retire.

The general idea is to allow us to buy lots of stocks on the cheap while we're in acquisition mode, and then they all pop right before we retire, and we slowly liquidate during the bull market, getting top dollar for our investments.

So maybe we can all be thankful that the market was down for a bit to allow us to buy some more on the cheap?

[japhi]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

FWIW (maybe not much) the S&P 500 is up more than 17% YTD. Not all is doom and gloom.

Wages are also growing.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by japhi

Wages are also growing.

That means squat when everything costs quadruple.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

That means squat when everything costs quadruple.

Wages and inflation are both measured since the beginning of 2020:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...-inflation-us/

Spoiler alert, wages have outpaced inflation.