{"id":9319,"date":"2019-01-02T09:04:15","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T17:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.paladinregistry.com\/?p=9319"},"modified":"2021-01-22T00:23:44","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T05:23:44","slug":"the-financial-equation-bear-markets-time-to-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paladinregistry.com\/blog\/investing\/the-financial-equation-bear-markets-time-to-panic\/","title":{"rendered":"The Financial Equation: Bear Markets \u2026 Time to Panic?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Trump\u2019s handling of both trade issues and the fed interest-rate hikes has caused some market volatility<\/a><\/strong>, and many world stock markets have either fallen into or are close to hitting bear market territory (declines of more than 20 percent from the high). Because of this, you\u2019ve probably felt some degree of heightened volatility in your portfolio. Should you panic and sell all your investments? Most often the answer to that question is no. What most people should be worried about is how this volatility affects their portfolios and financial plans for the long term (not the short term).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most people who are in their 20s, 30s, 40s and early 50s or have at least 10 or more years to accumulate assets toward their goals, you probably have very little to worry about in regards to the latest financial turmoil. In fact, it will probably give you an opportunity to buy some discounted investments, thereby helping your portfolio grow more down the line. So be ready with any extra cash you may have to invest in bargains and\/or possibly sell off certain investments that may no longer make sense to hold in your portfolio (for example, end of year tax-loss harvesting to erase any big portfolio gains).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those closing in on or already in retirement (in your mid-50s, 60s and older) or those who have less than 10 years to accumulate assets toward their goals, you may be a bit more concerned about how this recent market turmoil may affect you (and understandably so). However, let\u2019s highlight some statistics that may make you re-think your worries \u2013 and stop you from worrying too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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