Things to remember: Historically, stocks have gone down faster than they have gone up, but they also went up more frequently than they went down.  Over time, the market has gone up in in 70 percent of the years measured. Throughout nearly the last century, stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 index, which comprises America’s 500 largest publicly traded companies, have yielded an average return of 10 percent annually.*

Things to do: To ride out the storm well, focus more on your goals than the current news. Try not to react emotionally; investors trying to time the market by jumping in and out of it run the risk of selling low and missing periods of exceptional returns. While past performance is not a guarantee of future results, most financial experts recommend adopting a long-term strategy when investing in the stock market.

Turbulent times are a good reminder, however, to review your plan regularly. Consider how well it fits your investment time frame, your need for growth and the level of risk you’re willing to take. Is your portfolio diversified adequately? Spreading investments over a variety of classes, assets and markets won’t guarantee you won’t incur losses, but it should limit them. You may want to make plans now to rebalance some of your holdings when the time is right, or you might view a downturn as an opportune time to purchase some investments at reduced levels.

If you’re still working, don’t let temporary setbacks discourage you from making regular contributions to your retirement plan. Continue to invest a fixed amount of money at regular periods over the years, and you’ll buy more shares of each asset when prices are low and fewer when they are high. Using this technique, your average purchase price should be lower than the average market price over the same period.

Finally, be patient. Although it may take some time, markets generally do rebound. In the meantime, please feel free to call our office and set up a time to review your portfolio to ensure it suits your long-term goals and includes a plan for future market volatility.

*https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/average-stock-market-return/

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Written by Securities America for distribution by Brad Werner.