Attached is a market outlook from Brady Enright, portfolio counselor and investment analyst with American Funds.

The stock market has been especially crazy so far in 2008. Most of you are “trained well” and know that if you are in the market for the long term, now is the best opportunity to buy. Keep investing in your 401k’s and other retirement plans, and remember that NOW is the time to take advantage while the market is down. In a few years, you will be pleased you bought while the market was down, rather than pulling out and making your losses a reality.

Now, let us address this issue with those of you who are currently retired, and you are not buying more investments, but living off of your investments. When addressing the future, we often ask our clients if they were to buy a new car, furniture, clothing, and groceries, will these items be more expensive in the future? It is interesting that everyone has confidence in the fact that these goods and services will be more expensive in the future but somehow doubt that our stock market will react the same way. Consumer spending makes up approximately 70% of our economy. In general, the market may go up and down, but history shows us that the trend is always up. Patience is the key.

Many of my retired clients have been retired for 15-20 years. They have seen the market volatility and now see their original investment is still growing over the long term while they are taking out their income. Be careful here, some of you have established a pattern of withdrawing more than you are earning. This is okay for the short term, not the long term!

It is important for you to note that I cannot control the stock market! I can, however, control your RiSK. If you feel that you do not want to look at the long term, and you really need to reduce the risk of your portfolio, please call me. I’m here to help you make the best financial decisions possible.