It seems to me that a fund such as this one (FDFAX) would give you peace of mind and almost be like money in the bank. The types of companies that this fund invests in are the types of companies that the average consumer cannot live without. Companies such as Procter & Gamble, Coke, Pepsi, Altria. Not only do this companies have bullet-proof brands, but some sell products that can cause the consumer to become addicted to it (nicotine, caffeine). I don't condone people to drink sugared water, or smoke, but if people will do it regardless why then not profit from it?

There are some stocks and mutual funds out there that can cause an investor to lose money when averaging down in price. For example, the investor that decided to average down on JDSU in 2001 or on Enron back in the day. This fund, however, I would not think twice about buying if beaten down in a bad market, because of the rock-solid companies that it invests in.