if the missus is worried about losing money why don't you put the money into a diversified fund
eg afi, arg, dui or aui
I would even look at the index funds like stw
the market has fallen 50%
the most it fell in the great depression was 52%
It could go lower but not much imo
Afterall we are supposed to be better off than the rest of the world eg more capacity to cut interest rates, a stable banking system and I read today potential for more rises in house prices