"The people I worry about are those who were on the edge of having enough money to retire, and then retired last year," Jeff says. "They're in sad shape."

Jeff says that, for many people, now is a great opportunity to buy low in the market.

"I, personally, am increasing my savings into these plans, because in five or 10 years, you'll look back and say, 'Look at the market dip on this chart.' The emotions will have passed. What we're living through now is going to go from a fearful experience to a dip on a chart," Jeff says.

"I think it's understandable and even rational that people feel discouraged … but that's the nature of the return and the risk."

He says people tend to forget about the risk inherent in stock market investing when it's only going up. "The truth is, you never would have gotten the returns you got before without the specter of risk raising its head," Jeff says.

"For everyone now, you've paid the risk, so hang around and get paid for the reward," he says. "This is what it feels like to buy low. What it feels like to sell high is selling when everybody is happy about the market. You think you would be nuts to sell, because you're making so much money. On the one end you're being driven by fear, and on the other end by greed. A good investor is not driven by either one of those. A good investor is driven by history and facts and long-term goals."

So, what do you think? Do you agree with Jeff's philosophy? Are you buying into today's market? Or are you getting out before it goes down even more?

I'd like your thoughts on this topic. Or, if you have financial questions, I'd like those, too. Send correspondence to gkratz@desnews.com or to the Deseret News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110.

E-MAIL: gkratz@desnews.com