dear kelly
the main point being made is that it is a time
of much much higher htanusual risk in making
investments ... and that
there is a very real possibility of global
markets collapse ...

if so ,,, such guarantees might not be worth
much at all ...

if local e.g. a collapse in japan perhaps
investing with american firms there would
insulate you OR PERHAPS NOT

in such times of much higher risk
some persons would e.g. go all cash
meaning sell all stock , bond investments
and wait awhile for markets to be safer ...

you explore it all
and decide of course for yourself

but DO NOT HAVE BLIND FAITH THAT THIS IS THE MODERN
WORLD AND NOTHING CAN OCCUR TO TAKE YOUR MONEY

that is just silly