The financial pinch on taxpayers will begin to sting a little next year.

"That's when they'll really have to come up with the money for it," said Roy Long, a Thomasville certified public accountant.

How much the bite will hurt taxpayers will be dependent upon who takes national office in January and which political party controls the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, Long explained.

Mike Ryan, a Thomas University adjunct economics professor, compared the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, or bailout, to a company selling bad debts to a collection agency.

If a collection agency purchases bad debts for $20,000, it might recoup only $20,000. It might generate $40,000. It might receive nothing.

"Now the federal government is playing the role of collection agency," Ryan said.

Money in the $700 billion bailout will be available in increments. Congress will decide when each increment is available, he explained.

Ryan said the government will recoup some of the money as banks get in better shape.

The financial crisis probably will not have a huge effect on retirement accounts unless the bailout does not work, Ryan said, adding that the bailout will prevent retirement resources from suffering more.

"If you want to do something for the economy, go to work. Go to work and work hard. Don't worry about the economy," Ryan said.

People who lost money in investments during the recent money turmoil need not expect to take the losses off 2009 federal income taxes.

"Unless you sell, you do not incur a loss," Long said.

He said Americans should not panic. "People who panic lose," Long explained.

His advice: Sit back, and be patient.