Have you ever been struck from behind while you were in your car? It usually happens at a stoplight or stopsign. Everything is nice and peaceful and BANG you get a terrible whack. Totally unexpected. Some damage to the car and maybe to you.

It might be a day or so later as headaches start, dizzy spells and vomiting. Yuk! Best thing is to be off to your chiropractor to have bones reset.

This is somewhat like the stock market and your portfolio. You are going along comfortably relaxed and suddenly the market hits you from behind. Totally unexpected. There is damage to your portfolio and maybe to your peace of mind. Could be headaches and vomiting depending on how serious is the crash.

It's off to your broker or financial planner to get things fixed. After you get there you are shocked to find out he has no idea how to get your money back. Yuk! He is supposed to be an expert and this should not have happened in the first place. You are about find out that brokers and financial planners have been taught their trade by the big Wall Street brokerage houses. Their goal is not to make you rich but to get rich off you. Can this be true? You betcha. You will learn that advice from a broker is a eulogy for your money.

It is not that your broker or financial planner is dishonest. It is that he doesn