Poll: Stock market turbulence weighs on Maricopans

Our weekly, informal polls typically focus on issues that affect some aspect of life in and around Maricopa. But last week’s question took direct aim at something that affects everybody – their money, their retirement plans, their financial future.

We asked: “How is the topsy-turvy stock market weighing on you?”

A little background: the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Friday at 33,913.96, down 8.5% since the Dow’s all-time high on Jan. 4 of this year. The Nasdaq composite is off about 23% since the beginning of the year. Such upheaval on Wall Street impacts all of our 401ks, mutual funds and investments.

There were 144 respondents to the poll. About 49% of those respondents answered, “I am now concerned about my financial future or retirement.” About 24% selected a more optimistic answer: “I see it as an opportunity.” About 18% said the question didn’t apply to them.

About 8% answered they were getting out of the market and going all cash.