Written and edited by Harry Rubins for his clients and friends.
Not intended as legal or tax advice.
Obtain professional advice before taking action on this information.

$335,557!

This is the value of your portfolio today assuming you invested $100,000 in the stock market at the worst time in the last 20 years; on October 16, 1987 - the day before "black Monday." That Monday the Dow lost 508 points (22.6%) and the value of the account dropped to $77,390. It took about a year for the market to recover.

To make matters worse, assume the account was closed August 31, 1998 when the Dow declined 512 points (6.4%). Yet with time, the market still returned a profit of $235,557 plus the original investment for a total value of $335,557. Not bad for an example of investing on "bad days."

Time and patience will get you through. Regular investing will help to make it even better.