The objective of the exercise is to have cash available for buying during every downturn — can’t happen unless you have the courage to take profits when prices are rising. Yes, you are expected to feel stupid in both exercises. When you feel like you “sold too soon”, the bubble buster is just around the corner. When you know you re-entered the market too early, the rally is just over the horizon.

Why do we jump through all of these “prevent-defense” hoops? Because we just don’t know how or have the patience to design and manage a classic, safer, plain vanilla, stocks and bonds portfolio. The market cycle is the favorite son of the investment gods. You either make it your friend or fail as an investor!