The Dow Jones industrial average skidded to 6,547 a year ago Tuesday, hitting 12-year lows over the next year, leaving investors around the world shaken, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

"It was a white-knuckle period a year ago. Every investor was nervous," said Susan Elser, an Indianapolis financial planner.

A year later, major market indexes have rallied by 60 percent. Elser said those who stayed with their investment portfolio have benefited the most.

"The average investor benefits a lot from the target retirement fund and a 401k that automatically gets more conservative as they reach their retirement age," she said. "I think investing -- every month -- a stable amount helps you buy more stocks when the prices are low."

Butler University economist Bill Rieber said that while the economy has stabilized, consumer confidence and investor confidence won't return until unemployment numbers are better.

"We're hoping unemployment starts to fall, but if it does, it will be very gradual," he said.

He estimated it could be a few years or longer until unemployment returns to what it was two years ago.

In the meantime, Elser said it's crucial for average investors to avoid the guessing game.

"Trying to avoid timing the market and anticipating when you think the market's going to be higher or lower tends not to pay off," she said. "But the steady investing and the disciplined re-balancing tends to help investors."