Quote Originally Posted by gonelong View Post
From the perspective of my retirement plan I ask ... what losses?

We can't eat with the total value of our portfolios - we have to convert that to purchasing power. I already know how I am going to do that - my investments are pumping out dividend income (cash flows). For now, those cash flows are busy buying more retirement income. At some point I will be retired and will be using my dividend income (coupled with a pension, social security, etc.) to pay bills, get groceries, and go on trips.

Had I already been retired that ~25% drop in the market (and my portfolios) would have been just a news story. This event provided a data point for me - my dividend income was essentially unaffected. The stocks I have identified and purchased were able to keep on paying (and some raising) dividends through very difficult times.

No loss of income. I'd say that is comforting.

GL
Great post. My thinking exactly