Market-Time Like A Pro

Editor's note: As a special feature for April, TheStreet.com is offering a seven-part series on maximizing your IRA. This installment is part 5. Click here to find Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 6 and Part 7. .

In theory, once you decide how much risk you are comfortable taking, you should be able to set your asset allocation more or less on autopilot, adjusting it gradually to become more conservative as you approach retirement age.

But even the most committed buy-and-hold investor is likely to be tempted to time the market now and then. ...