Posted on Dec 1, 2008 | by Roy Hayhurst

DALLAS (BP)--No one knows when the current stock market malaise will end, but history shows that past market crises do end and the markets do recover, said John R. Jones, chief operating officer of GuideStone Financial Resources.

Jones responds to concerns raised about the changing markets by participants in the Southern Baptist entity's investment programs in a video posted at GuideStone's website.

Jones emphasizes, for example, that a well-diversified and appropriately allocated portfolio is important for market conditions such as these.

"It is important to evaluate your current allocation based on your long-term goals and objectives," Jones notes. "Your goals and objectives should reflect your risk tolerance, investment time horizon and age and should not be based solely on fear of where the market is going in the short-term."

Regarding concerns by some retirees who opted to receive some of their retirement benefits in installments, Jones suggests, "During times like these, it is a good idea to re-evaluate your retirement income strategy. Many retirees can look for ways to reduce their expenses, find ways to earn extra income or delay large or discretionary expenses until market conditions improve. The important thing is to plan ahead and not to react solely based on emotion."

GuideStone Financial Resources has posted updates and other resources to its website in recent weeks to respond to the concerns expressed by participants unnerved by the market conditions. GuideStone participants also can sign up on the website for free e-newsletters with educational articles and tips for their finances, as well as life and health needs.

To access GuideStone's volatile markets webpage, visit www.GuideStone.org/marketwatch or click on the banner on the GuideStone homepage.
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Roy Hayhurst is senior marketing communications editor for GuideStone Financial Resources. A transcript of the comments by John R. Jones, chief operating officer of GuideStone Financial Resources, follows:

The recent weeks of market fluctuations have been hard on our participants. Many of you have seen your retirement accounts decrease as stock markets around the world react to the current economic conditions. You are understandably concerned about your accounts and what the future may hold -- for yourself, your family, even for GuideStone. Know that over the past 90 years GuideStone has stood strong through Depression, world and regional wars, terrorism at home and abroad, and political and economic uncertainties. This strength continues as we weather the current financial conditions.

Through decades of careful planning and conservative financial leadership, GuideStone has thoroughly prepared for situations such as these. Even now, we are aggressively managing costs in each area of our operations as we seek to hold down expenses in these difficult times. Further, in the midst of this financial crisis, we are committed to providing you with superior customer service, irrespective of market conditions. If you are receiving benefits from GuideStone, you can trust that you will continue to receive them. And for our precious soldiers of the cross who participate in our Mission:Dignity ministry, you can rest assured your benefit will continue in 2009.

GuideStone continues to receive questions from participants about their retirement accounts and I would like to address a few of the most often asked questions now.

First, you have asked about the wisdom of moving your retirement money into more conservative investments now and then back to more aggressive investments later.

Since there is no way to predict the future of financial markets with 100 percent accuracy, financial experts turn to lessons from the past.

History shows the importance of being invested in the market through ups and downs. If you had been invested in a fund that contained stocks of the S&P 500 Index from Jan. 1, 1985, through March 31, 2007, you would have been invested for more than 5,600 days, and would have had a 12.8 percent average annual return. But consider this: To attain that 12.8 percent annual return, you would have had to remain invested during the market downturn of October 1987, the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, the terrorist attacks in 2001 and recessions in the early 1990s and early 21st century. In short, trying to time the market may result in missing out on a rebound in the markets when they occur.

Secondly, you have asked us if you should change your asset allocation.

GuideStone has always encouraged retirement investors to be well diversified and appropriately allocated. It is important to evaluate your current allocation based on your long-term goals and objectives. Your goals and objectives should reflect your risk tolerance, investment time horizon and age, and should not be based solely on fear of where the market may go in the short-term. Remember that the markets historically have rewarded investors with a well-balanced portfolio over time -- even with exposure to market risks.

That's why it's so important to focus on the long-term strategy of your retirement investments, and not short-term tactical decisions. The best plan -- if you're in an appropriately allocated and well-diversified portfolio -- is to stay the course and don't sell in a down market.

If you decide that you want to make a change, consider making gradual changes to your portfolio over time or using the allocation of your future contributions to adjust your overall asset allocation. Gradual changes can help reduce the timing risk of making significant changes to your portfolio on a single day when market fluctuations may cause you to extend or lock in any losses your account has experienced.

You have also asked about the benefits of being invested in mutual funds in a turbulent market.

We are all feeling the effects of the volatile stock market we've witnessed over the past few weeks, and we know that investing for the long term brings with it unavoidable ups and downs along the way. However, by investing in mutual funds, like those offered by GuideStone Funds, you have the added benefit of investment diversification in a large number of companies that operate in a wide range of industries. In fact, mutual fund regulations limit the amount that a diversified mutual fund can invest in any one company. While diversification will not eliminate the possibility of investment loss that we feel in times like these, it does limit our financial exposure to the performance of any individual company in which we invest. And at GuideStone, our multi-manager investment approach provides an additional level of diversification by providing access to multiple carefully selected world-class investment management firms within a single investment fund.

Finally, those of you who are receiving monthly installment payments from your retirement accounts have expressed concern that the recent decrease in the value of your account will cause you to outlive your money.

During times like these, it is a good idea to re-evaluate your retirement income strategy. You might consider using other investments or retirement benefits to supplement your GuideStone account. Many retirees can look for ways to reduce their expenses, find ways to earn extra income, or delay large or discretionary expenses until market conditions improve. The important thing is to plan ahead and not to react solely based on emotion.

GuideStone cannot control the fluctuations of the market and we cannot be certain about when this economic and financial downturn will end. However, history has taught us from the market crises of the past that they do all end and the markets do recover. Ninety years strong, GuideStone has weathered past uncertainty and continues to serve our participants with retirement, life and health plans, and investment opportunities.

Now as in the past, you can be assured that GuideStone is well-prepared for situations such as these and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you, our participants, for decades to come. Above all, you can know that we are focused on the prudent management of your assets and will never waiver from the trust you have placed in us.