Take Your Funds' April 14 Performance as a Sign of Future Risk

Now you see it. Now you don't.

In today's market time, where 10 minutes seem to bring what 10 years used to, last week's rout is likely little more than a distant memory.

Don't forget so soon. Believe it or not, that red-flashing ticker handed you more than a scare and a stomachache. Not only did it offer a valuable (if unwelcome) reminder that there are no guarantees on Wall Street, the selloff also gives a black-and-white (or green-and-red) picture of an investment's potential future risk. ...