I have an important question to ask you, and taking a moment now to answer it may rattle you…

When do you think the Dow will go to 32,000?”

Does that seem like a crazy or dumb question?  It’s not.  I’ll explain why in a moment, but I have another question for you first:

What would you consider to be a minimum acceptable annual return on your money for taking on the nerve-wracking risk and volatility of the stock market?

5%?  7%?  Maybe even 10%?

Over the past two years, we surveyed tens of thousands of people about this, and most responded that they wouldn’t consider risking their money in the market unless they could get a 7% or more annual return.

But let’s say you only insisted on a 5% per year return…

The Dow would have to be over 32,000 right now – TODAY! – to give you just a 5% annual return, after adjusting for inflation!  (32,072 to be exact.)

We’ve been tracking this data since 2010, and even though the Dow has soared to new heights in recent days, investors are still falling behind.

Are you curious how we calculated this?  The Dow first closed above 11,000 on May 3, 1999.  Between then and March 31, 2013 (the latest date for which figures are available), we’ve had just over 40% inflation, according to the government’s key inflation barometer.

Of course, there are many who say the government’s numbers way underestimate the real inflation rate.  You may have experienced that yourself, as you’ve watched the prices skyrocket on many things you buy regularly.

Regardless of which inflation numbers you believe are correct, you know that inflation takes a real bite out of the purchasing power of your dollars.

For the record, as others have pointed out, if you only wanted to keep even with inflation since May, 1999 – 14 years ago – the Dow would have to be at 15,427.17 today.  That’s when we’d be at a “true,” rather than a “nominal” high.  But we’re still not there.

What if you didn’t care about the spending power of your dollars and you just wanted a 5% return since May 1999?  You’d need a Dow of 22,899 today, which would require a more than 50% increase from where it is now!

So let me ask you again – how long do you think it will take the Dow to hit 32,000 – or even just 22,000 – and STAY at that level or higher?

But wait!  It gets worse – these numbers don’t even take into account any investment or retirement account fees or taxes, all of which will take another huge bite out of your nest egg.

Request your FREE Analysis and find out why Bank On Yourself may be the best way to invest for safely, liquidity, flexibility, control and tax advantages!

Does Warren Buffett Know Something You Don’t?

In an interview on CNBC last week, Warren Buffett, who is considered to be one of the most successful investors of all time, said… 

We will have another bubble and it will burst.”

The warning signs are all around us already…

• Small investors are borrowing against their portfolios and margin debt has skyrocketed to a level just shy of that seen in 2007 – just before the markets crashed
• Houses going on the market in some cities are receiving multiple bids above the asking price on the first day – often accompanied by letters from the hopeful buyers pleading to be given a chance (more shades of 2007)
• Sub-prime loans (high-rate mortgages for high-risk borrowers that caused the housing bust) are making a comeback (it’s déjà vu all over again)

Risk On! As far as I can tell, for most people, the lessons learned from the Great Recession were fleeting.

But the more important question is – what lasting lessons did you learn from the financial crisis?

Take this quick survey and share your biggest takeaway with us!