People don't remember that in the early 80s, the Prime Rate went as high as 20%. Talk about an ouch. Great and helpful analysis. A friend, just this morning I kid you not, told me she's going to start investing in the S&P 500 index. I sent her a copy of your article and told her to read this first. Again, not because she shouldn't, but you already did all the research for her and of course she should go in with her eyes opened wide.