The market goes up, the market goes down. Way down.

We're in the middle of another incredibly volatile week of stock trading. Starting to seem routine? Probably not. Yet while the market swings might be a bit more severe than we're comfortable with and the omnipresent media broadcasts the implications 24 hours a day, what has really changed for those preparing for retirement?

Actually, very little. If you are many (i.e., ten or more) years from retirement, you likely remain a long-term investor who should seriously consider riding out these waves. If anything, times like these often present an opportunity to purchase more shares of companies at less expensive prices. If that seems crazy to you, it may be yet another indication we're nearing the bottom, meaning, perhaps, an even better time to stay the course.