SYRACUSE, NY -- As many people watched the stock market drop, they weren't thinking what it meant for the overall economy - they were thinking about their 401ks and retirement plans.
"I guess I'm concerned a little bit but overall I think for someone my age, when I'm ready to retire I hope Social Security is still there and my money is still there," said Jacob Levine in Syracuse.
Stacy Murphy said she felt helpless as she watched the final numbers come in each day and now tries to look at her retirement plan as a marathon and not a sprint.
"Well, you feel like especially with the debt situation we're in and the dollar going down. It gets a little nerve wracking - you don't know if you're going to bounce back or not. Hopefully you stay in for the long run and it will come out good," said Murphy.
The drop has been frustrating for accountants and financial advisors as well. Not only are they trying to stay positive but some of their clients are panicking.
"I'm fielding all type of phone calls from my clients who are really scared and I have to explain to them - we've seen this before, we'll see this again. Don't panic," said accountant Mario Bottini.
That's just how Melanie Long looks at the stock market. Ever since she started working she's been saving as much as she could for retirement and her son's education. Long says she's ready to ride out whatever comes next.
"So I think as long as things stay status quo, I'll hang in there and be able to retire," said Long.
Many economists say investors should be prepared for more dramatic swings up and down as the markets assess the strength of the worldwide economy.
