Doc,
You nailed it!!
I think that I've related the story about my partner's IRA and how it lost close to 50% of it's value in 08. A couple of hundred thousand. The worst part is that she couldn't claim the loss!
The only person who really cares about your money is YOU!! If it's not invested, these bandits earn nothing.
Ronbo,
I hear you. I lost my entire pension when my co was bought out by another. We took them to court. No luck. This has happened quite frequently.
There was a story a few years ago about this old fart who went into the bank - and passed a ransom note to the teller demanding $ 1.00. After getting his buck, he sat down and waited for the police to show up. He had just been evicted from his apt and had no $$ for essentials. At least in prison you get taken care of. As a parole officer friend of mine used to say -"they got 3 hots (meals) and a cot". Hell, up here, they can even vote in the election.
He got 3 years.