There’s an old saying that says what goes up must come down. While that saying might have been initially applied to the law of gravity, it applies to all sorts of things in life. From baseball dynasties to global superpowers, the number one movie at the box office, to the stock market, few things ever stay either dominant or dormant forever.

Of course, that same concept can be applied to the many different forces that impact your investment portfolio. Stock markets rise, and stock markets fall relative to such varied dynamics as crop production, the threat of war, civil unrest, geopolitics, or a whole host of other factors.

In other words, learning how to invest in turbulent times, or to put it more precisely, sticking with your investments during turbulent times, can be a difficult skill to achieve but essential in meeting your financial goals.

History Repeats Itself

As easy as it might be to think the global turbulence we see all around us is unique and somehow makes these trying times worse than others, maintaining a proper perspective on history and our place in it might provide some solace when it’s most needed.

Granted, given the intensity and frequency of the foreboding headlines splashed across newspapers, television, the Internet, and social media these days, it can be easy to forget about the complicated circumstances society has withstood and rebounded from in just the last century alone.

As dark and ominous as World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and too many other catastrophes to count, seemed at the time, both humanity and the financial markets persevered. To use the most recent example, the financial crisis of 2008 was a dark time that rattled even the most resolute of investors.

However, for those who were able to stay put in the face of “Too Big To Fail,” countless government bailouts, and even large banks going the way of the dinosaurs, that perseverance was rewarded with what has been a record-breaking stock market just a decade later.

Understand Your Risk Tolerance

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is to have an accurate and thorough understanding of your innate level of risk tolerance. If you construct your portfolio with both good and bad times in mind, you’re far more likely to be able to ride out even the choppiest of investment waters.

This means when the market is skyrocketing, you don’t let the exuberance allow you to invest more aggressively than you would otherwise since, as we stated at the top, what goes up will always come down. Keep an even keel and invest faithfully to your risk tolerance and not according to that exuberance or its first cousin – fear. 

Does your portfolio(s) meet your risk tolerance, or do you need help with your financial plan? We’re here to help! Simply click here or call (763) 445-2772 to schedule a complimentary consultation today!