Even thought it is cold outside it’s getting hot in the kitchen.  I’m however not talking about the kitchen in your house I am talking about the kitchen on Wall Street.  Let’s face it the stock market has been HOT and last years we had all kinds of new highs and new records were set.  For those of you that are in the market, you must be happy with the way your portfolios have performed.  Some of us on the outside of the market might look a little jealous, but on the inside are happy to know we are not at risk of a pull back.

“Pull back you say?  What pull back, this party is going to last forever!”  I wish it was that easy but we all know that someday the market will correct itself as it always does.  Even the people on Wall Street will tell you that the market is cyclical and they are saying that they do not think that this is going to be a great year.  Who knows when the correction will be 2014 maybe 2015 or even 2016.  I am not here to be all doom and gloom and try to tell you that the end is near, it is not fear I am trying to instill, it is just some common sense.

For all of the people reading this that think they are going to let it ride until they see something change and then get out, let me ask you this.  Have you ever had a friend that won big in Las Vegas?  Did you ever ask them how they won?  I am not sure how the whole conversation went but I am sure it ended with “and then I got up and cashed in my winnings.”  Well the S&P 500 is up over 100% since 2009, that means you should have doubled your money if not more.  Now might be a good time to “get up and cash in your winnings”, because they are not yours if you don’t take them off the table.

Look to annuities to help you keep some of your wealth, with so many options out there I am sure we can find something to help you keep your winning safe.  Leave me a comment and let me know what your ideas are for the 2014 investment year.  I hope it doesn’t get too hot in your kitchen.