[JoshTriplett]

If you needed the money immediately, that's an understandable reaction to the Depression.

If you did dollar-cost averaging through the Depression, and didn't have any immediate need to withdraw, you'd have come out of it doing pretty well.

[bittercynic]

Many people aren't able to dollar-cost average through the times it would be most beneficial. There's a strong correlation between stocks getting cheaper and being temporarily unable to earn enough money to continue your usual investing.

[bregma]

How to become a millionaire:

1. Start with $10,000,000 2. Invest right before an economic downturn.