Reply #5: I would not be the least bit surprised [View All]

[SheilaT]

if the stock market shows a whole lot of volatility for a while, and then stocks go up and up. Of course, I could be completely wrong on that second half.

Anyway, as others have said, banks are very safe these days. If you do have more than whatever the maximum that the FDIC currently insures, it would always be a smart thing to spread that money around to different institutions or in different kinds of accounts. Here's a link you might find helpful, no matter how much or little money you have in savings: http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/insured/basics.html

It's also pretty much a truism of the market that you should be diversified, and in general leave your money alone for the most part. It's taking it out after a downturn in the market, and then putting it back in when the market goes back up that keeps investors from making much money.