Stocks Tumble, What Should You Do?

It was a tumultuous day on Wall Street Monday, as worldwide markets reacted to a global credit crunch.

The Dow Jones sank as much as 800 points, and then bounced back, closing down 369, below the 10,000 mark for the first time in 4 years.

For investors, the bottom line is don't panic.

Take a deep breath.

Financial planners and academics agree that investment in stocks is for the long term.

Conrad Ciccotello, Georgia State Robinson College of Business Finance Professor, urges investors to move slowly and with top professional guidance and not to bail out of stocks unless there is no alternative.

"People panicking and selling now who have a long horizon have to decide when to get back in -- that?s two times to be wrong," he said.

"For young investors, it's a fantastic buying opportunity. For middle age investors, it's also a fantastic buying opportunity," he added.

And, Professor Ciccotello says investors should be:

"... widely diversified and own a total market index, own a world index, and don?t try to find that one stock that will come out of this.

"Unless you need all of your money right now to eat or do something really important, immediately," he said, "why panic?"

AirTran Offers Sale

And a 2-day airfare sale from AirTran.

You have until Wednesday midnight to get the 10-day advance purchase tickets.

You can use them through December 17th.