Myron Cohen, an old-time Brooklyn comedian, once said, "Here's how you come out ahead in Las Vegas: When you get off the plane, walk into the propeller!"

Amid the current financial crisis, many employees may feel like they've walked into the propeller, so to speak, when it comes to their retirement and overall financial planning. However, employers can offer retirement plan participants this four-point plan - called DABL - to help them (re)build their wealth and outrun the bear market.

D: Diversification

With a widely diversified portfolio, individual stock losses are swallowed by individual gains - meaning the Enrons will be offset by the Microsofts and Exxons. Before Enron crashed and burned, Wall Street analysts wouldn't shut up about what a great buy the firm's stock was. With a portfolio that was not adequately diversified, Enron investors would have lost everything, and it wouldn't have recovered the same as the rest of the market when times got better. In short, diversification removes the gambling aspect of stock market investing.

A: Asset Allocation

This goes hand in hand with diversification. This is simply allocating investments in varied sectors of the economy to minimize market downturns and profit on the inevitable upswings. Here's a conservative asset allocation for all seasons:

• 5% Small-cap growth funds
• 5% Mid-cap growth funds
• 5% Large-cap growth funds
• 10% Small-cap value funds
• 10% Mid-cap value funds
• 10% Large-cap value funds
• 10% Value blend funds
• 10% Aggressive growth funds
• 5% High-yield bonds fund
• 5% Investment-grade bonds

• *5% International global bonds
• 5% Global emerging markets
• 5% International growth
• *10% International value

"Cap" refers to capitalization - the size of the stocks the fund purchases."Blend" means the fund invests across all styles and sizes in its area.International usually means outside the U.S., while global includes U.S. investments.This allocation uses strictly mutual funds. Software like Morningstar places each fund in the style boxes described in this allocation. For investors that don't have enough assets to buy all those funds, start with "value" and "growth," and leave "aggressive" and "emerging" markets for last.If your 401(k) doesn't have all those options, closely duplicate this allocation with emphasis on "value."

B: Buy and hold

Buying and selling securities results in losses or minimum gains for most investors.Instead, just buy, diversify and hang on for the ride.

L: Long term

The minimum holding period is five to seven years. Diversified buy-and-hold investments have achieved this goal in every seven-year period since 1969. Stock market investments should always be held for the long term. Anything else is gambling.

Still, investors inevitably ask: "I will be retiring next year. Shouldn't I be invested mostly in safe investments, like treasury bonds and CDs?"

Well, it depends. The DABL system is strictly to make money grow.

Most retirees have enough funds to leave a certain amount alone for seven years, and that's the amount that should be invested for growth.

It's going to vary for everyone. There's no pat answer; each investor has to analyze their individual situation.

But remember, this system is for growth, and every retirement portfolio needs growth to maintain money targeted to offset inflation.

So don't dabble with investments. DABL instead, and you'll escape the bear market just fine.

Patrick Astre, a certified financial planner and registered financial consultant, specializes in the economic issues of longevity. He is the founder of Astre Planning, Inc., and the author of, "This is Not Your Parents' Retirement," and "Educated Investing and the Four Seasons of Money."