In the investment world, along with other worlds, the best results are seen with hindsight. With all our ability to access, to learn and to study, at some point a decision is made. Looking back you can tell if it was the right decision. Despite the vast access to information, do you ever have enough or often you will make a decision without every piece of needed information. A example is for those readers who are married, when you decided to get married, did you know everything about your spouse? the answer is no. Hopefully you have been together a long time, which is great. Given you both had choices, did you make the correct one? Yes. Getting married was a decision you made without all the information and you made the correct one. Together you made the right decision.

Everyone can look back and see there was an opportunity ahead of us, but we either did not know or did not react. Other considerations were on your mind – housing prices, economy, family, downsizing, upsizing, holidays, sports, lots of things to occupy your time and energy. There are many different competing ideas and most have a basis of truth, only time will tell which ones receiving a passing grade.

Should you put all your money in cash and wait it out? maybe. (if you do, ensure you determine when you should begin to move out of cash, otherwise you will be waiting a long time) If you believe the real estate prices are at a bottom, is it better to buy real estate? maybe.

Historically, because the western economy is based on oil – to run cars, to heat homes, for goods. It is a reasonable assumption to believe investing in the best companies which pay dividends, continue to be a reasonable investment. Being defensive means a flight to the best quality – Will the stock price go up and down? Yes. Will the quality you picked continue to earn money? Yes. Will you continue to benefit? Yes. Even if you have incomplete information where the economy is going decisions can still be made.

There are always more questions than answers – till the next time – to raising questions.