As I write this the market is off to another bad start. It must be Monday.

Last week's big sell off has been unsettling. The reverberations continue. These aftershocks won't go away any time soon. We're entering a period of increased volatility; and that's going to have a tendency to raise stress levels. Are you prepared?

Where's your tolerance for risk these days? Chances are, and this is especially true if you had big money invested in March-2000, your appetite for risk isn't what it used to be. Your portfolio probably isn't what it used to be either.

You're probably more diversified. You've spread your investments among three or more asset classes to insure yourself against the markets' wild rides.

If so then pat yourself on the back because you're prepared for what's to come. Your plan now is to watch your expenses in order to save a little extra. You can then use this money to invest when things seem to be at their worst.