I've done well in MFs over the years. I also agree that timing the market is a day trader's fool errand, but seriously, who WASN'T waiting for the correction to hit? DOW *might* hit 1200, and we *might* see a real bear, but I doubt it. Too many on the sidelines with cash ready to play. I could see XOM hitting in the high or even mid $50's, but I went ahead and jumped in just in case those *mights* turn into *didn'ts*.
I bought in to XOM & CHV at under $70/share each, heavier in XOM (CHV has a bigger upside potential, but more risk. XOM books are pristine). Being able to turn a profit when oil is >$45/brl is pretty incredible for a company that size... which is the point. They have staying power, and not even the Saudis can afford to keep prices driven under like this for more than the next couple of years.
I like silver like Sheky, SHTF currency, sort of... but aside from that being a fairly remote necessity, you still can't eat it, can't hunt or defend with it, can't make fire with it. My REAL SHTF currency is bullets and the guns that love to eat them.
...but as a wealth-building strategy, not so much. Glad it's working out for you, Xrocker.