Wouldn't you rather invest your Social Security in the stock market?

[Abel_]

Heck yes! Everyone that's critisizing the current situation obviously doesn't know much about investments. Investments don't perpetually gain, just a fyi. This cycle is definately not ideal but it is also an oppertunity to buy low, so that you can sell high.'

I'm 26, and I'm pretty sure I won't be seeing much if any of my social security since I'm of the opinion that it will collapse by the time I reach retirement age. So, absolutely I would love to have control of that money and invest it. Heck, I'd rather put it a savings account then social security. At least give citeizens a choice, right? I'm tired of supplying Congress with money from which to "borrow" from. Good question!

[minoltabrian]

Yes, and as for all of those who say no because the market it down, that is the best time to be buying. While you are buying into your 401k or IRA's you want the market to go down. You will be buying more shares as it goes down. Its when you are getting ready to pull your money out that the market needs to be up. Losses on paper don't mean crap, it is when you go get your money out that the price matters.

[Miss B]

I sure would!

[RaptureReady]

Why invest in the stock market? When it crashes it will never come back.

[Fishguy]

The stock market has historically been the best investment over time. Even if I choose my stocks by throwing darts at the Wall Street journal, on average, this is what I kind of return I can expect.

If I invest $10,000.00 without doing any research at all into the company, on average I should expect that money to grow into $39,880.00 in the next 30 years.

The everage employee today has $6,426.00 invested on his behalf every year into Social Security. Younger workers today half almost no chance of seeing any of that money as it stands right now.

If over the next 30 years you could take that same $192,780.00 that would be stolen from you by the social security tax and invest it with those minumum returns we see by the dart throwing method, you tell me which one makes more sense.

I'll help you out. If you invest the money you are being charged for Social Security right when you start working, in 30 years, there is almost no doubt that you will be a millionaire.

Would you rather retire rich and carefree, or on the $800.00 dollars a month Social Security pays right now?

[Anon Y]

This question overlooks two obvious facts:

(1) A good retirement plan includes a combination of high risk/high yield investments with low risk/low yield investments; and
(2) Most people in the social security system ALSO invest in higher risk investments through their 401(k)s, IRAs, or other retirement plans.

The fact is that social security comprises the low risk end of most people's portfolios, with stocks comprising the higher risk end. I wouldn't put ALL my social security into stocks, just as I wouldn't want ALL the money I have in stocks to be placed in low risk social security investments.

Anyone who thinks that it's a simple "either/or" question between social security and the stock market doesn't understand even the basics of retirement planning.