"Is now a good time to invest?"

"Should I sell everything and buy CDs?"

"What should I do to protect my retirement?"

I'm getting these kind of questions from my clients and colleagues. They are rightfully concerned.

As I've been saying for a while now, market downs are to be expected. In fact, with a thoughtful investment strategy, market downs provide buying opportunities. But don't lunge into the market without a strategy!

It's easy to forget how important managing risk truly is when the markets seem to only be going up...

Take time now to review and revise - or create - an investment strategy. The Pros call this an investment policy. Same thing.

Here are some good articles for beginning investors - and I'm proud to say that they echo the investing principles I espouse based on my research of what really works.

Now is a great time to be a beginning investor, by Andrew Leckey (Tribune Media Services)

http://www.newsday.com/business/yourmoney/ny-c5878616oct12,0,2042009.story

Those With A Sense Of History May Find It's Time To Invest, by Alex Berensen (New York Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/business/12stox.html?ref=yourmoney