Stick to the Basics

History shows that every investor needs to cling to these well-known fundamentals to build toward their financially-secure future.

Remain Calm.

Resist the urge to overcorrect when the market drops. Selling in a panic means you could miss out on any potential recovery.

Stay Invested.

Even the experts cannot predict when markets may turn. Trying to "time the market" usually leads to poor decisions.

Stick to Your Strategy.

Stay the course by maintaining a balanced mix of assets aligned with your needs, goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Diversify.

You can create a somewhat shock-resistant portfolio by owning a diverse variety of assets.

Rebalance.

Market fluctuations can throw your investment mix out of line with your objectives. This means you may have to buy or sell assets to maintain your desired level of risk.

Be Patient.

Recoveries to new highs historically follow significant stock market declines. Sometimes, it takes weeks, and sometimes, years.