Have you changed your investment strategy? (Valley Forum).

If not affected personally, everybody in the United States is aware of the recent accounting scandals involving WorldCom, Enron, Global Crossing, Xerox, etc. etc. So, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal asks:

In light of all that has happened this year, how have your own personal attitudes and/or strategies toward investing changed?

Robb Greenspan

Principal

The Greenspan Co./Adjusters International

Encino

Simply, I have lost what little faith I had left in the market and its ability to recover soon. I have changed my strategy in investing in the 401k plan (moved to fixed income or money market accounts) and my stock portfolio.

I believe we will see a much worse market for a long time before there is light at the end of the tunnel. I think Mr. Bush's speech fell far short of bolstering the market, as evidenced by the three-digit drop the Dow took after the speech.

Indra M. Gandhi

Attorney Law offices of Indra M. Gandhi

Woodland Hills

New scandals come to light almost every day. The companies involved in the scandals are not some dot-com companies but are well-established and well-funded companies.

I do not buy the explanation of the boards (of directors) of those companies and their chief executives and chairpersons that it was all the fault of their outside accountants and auditors. All of them bear responsibility to a lesser or greater degree. It is hard to believe that greed has so immensely taken precedence over ethics in corporate America.

I would stay away from the stock market for a while. Let us see what more is in store.

Richard Paegelow

Managing Director

Inline Translation Services

Glendale

I'm scandalized and as mad as anybody can be.

I've moved half a million dollars away from my broker. I think I was hoodwinked and I will never ever again get into the stock market like I was.

I have liquidated most of the stocks I still had a profit in, others are in a garbage file. I put some money into treasury bills, I put a chuck of money into collateralized mortgages and some other is just cash, waiting to invest.

I just couldn't be madder. I've lost in the six figures and I'm not happy.

Joel G. Block

Managing Director

Growth-Logic Inc.

Agoura Hills

Being from the accounting profession, this is particularly disappointing to me. I know that 95 percent of CPAs are meticulous but consumers have to ask their CPAs some hard questions.

At least they need to know when, getting advice, who else is making money off of me in what other way? They need to make sure they're getting unbiased advice.