Correction: CDs are federally insured up to $100,000.

Buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell, sell. Jim Cramer’s screaming is driving me mad.

Stock market watching has never been my thing, and three months ago I didn’t know who Cramer was.

But when the stocks become the only news around, well, everybody listens. And worries.

Whether you are a fan of the CNBC money analyst and his show “Mad Money” or not, you’ve surely had a few dreadful thoughts about the state of America lately.

But worrying won’t get you anywhere. Following a few simple tips from area financial experts might.

Mississippi State University Economics Professor Charles Campbell said there are two groups of people losing sleep over the economy right now — retirees or those nearing retirement and people worried about losing their jobs.

The working worriers should sit tight and wait it out, he said. No one knows exactly what the future will hold, but there’s likely little you can do about it.

The retirees should do some checking.

Here are four things the experts say retirees and workers should be thinking about:

4 Make sure your money isn’t all in one spot.

If you are retired, you could have money in a variety of places, Campbell said.

It may be in a state retirement fund, and if so, it’s safe right now, he said.

If it’s in a personal portfolio, your nest egg is probably down, he said. But it’s not gone forever.

And if it’s in a bank, you are safe, he said.

Banks are insured and safe. And with a little maneuvering, a typical Miss-Lou family could have up to $1.3 million in a bank fully insured, representatives at Britton & Koontz Bank said. Six bank accounts including single spouse accounts, joint accounts, IRA accounts and child accounts can be insured.

If you have fixed assets — land or houses — you are also safe, Campbell said.

4 The good time to take your money out of the stock market is not now.

“What you probably want to do is try to not cash anything,” Campbell said.

“It will come back. If you can ride it out for a few months, a few weeks, (your stocks) will probably be OK.”

4 Realize that though your money in the bank is insured, money market accounts are not insured.

4 Don’t panic.

“We’ve been through things not too dissimilar from this,” Campbell said. “And as long as people don’t panic, they won’t lose a lot.”

Right now is a bad time to be making any major financial decisions, he said. Sit tight, and meet with your financial advisor when things calm. That’s the time to weigh stocks versus bonds and diversify what you’ve got.

Oh, and don’t feel dumb if you are clueless on the economy.

The experts don’t even know it all, Campbell said, and only time will tell.

“Anyone who tells you they know exactly what is going on and they can fix it is lying,” he said.

But watching financial analysts talk and talk some more won’t serve you much good. Be informed, but learn to walk away.

The luxury of being way down here in Mississippi (or Louisiana) means we are all a bit removed from Wall Street. Enjoy it.

Leave the worrying to the experts. Leave the screaming to Cramer.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.