There’s a reason that investors tend to only hear about “looming” market doom or “imminent” market growth. While many news outlets have incentive to draw viewer attention with wildly bullish or bearish predictions, these sensationalized views may be a distraction to a sound investment approach. When tempted to make a radical change to your investment portfolio based on these headlines, it is important to recall some basic fundamentals to keep your plan on track.
Drown out the noise. Market movements are notoriously difficult to predict. The media outlets that scream the loudest are not always the most accurate. The fallout from attempting to time the market in response to one of these predictions can be dangerous to your portfolio.
Look, but don’t stare. While it’s important for investors to know the performance of their accounts, short-term market fluctuations can be quite volatile. While the probability of realizing a loss within any given day is high, the likelihood of realizing a loss historically has decreased over longer holding periods. Periodic review of an investment portfolio is necessary, but investors shouldn’t let short-term swings affect their view of the future.
Stay focused on the long term. Investors who have taken the time to determine a sound investment plan based on specific goals and risk tolerances are best advised to stick to that plan. While it may not always grab headlines, a sensible, tailored investment plan may be the best solution to meeting long-term goals.
Holding a portfolio of securities for the long term does not ensure a profitable outcome, and investing in securities always involves risk of loss.