Robert

I put 15% of my pay into my 401k. This year it sees a loss of 5.8% for the year. The previous year was like that too and my employer has stopped matching a few years back.. So it would be better to just put it in a savings account earning 1%. I remember back when I was investing in mutual funds that the firm would move stocks every minute in order to capitalize and had bottom of like 12% that if it went under they moved the stocks. You never saw negative returns. Ya, I know that was a long time ago and the margins are a lot lower now but you never saw negative returns. What has happened? I know the economy is in the toilet and the market is volatile but if your shifting quickly, and diversifying there should be next to no chance of negative return unless its being run by idiots. Any suggestions? I would like to retire one day.

Here in the US you buy a house and you have to pay property taxes, if not, you will lose your home putting your family out on the street. Same is the case in most other english speaking countries. Yet in other countries Once you buy a house it is yours and is passed down through the generations. Their roads still get built and emergency services still get paid, garbage gets collected, etc. And no one loses their home. Why is everyone ok, with this?