When Stocks Drop by 33.9%, 49.1%, or Even 56.8%

By pathdoc @ Shutterstock.com

There’s a time when you’re most vulnerable as an investor. It’s not when you’re knee-deep in work, with retirement waaay off in the distance. It’s when, as you dream about retirement, you look at your statement and do some mental math: when can I retire? You realize, hmmm, I’ve got some money, but I need “X” dollars to retire. I need to make “X” percent on my portfolio to get there.

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Now, with this dream in mind and a portfolio full of stocks, your palms get a little sweaty when the market drops by 800 points or so. You’re paying a little closer attention to the down days. Maybe a little too close, especially when you think about explaining lost money to your spouse.

Remember, when dreams start getting broken apart like a tree in a tornado, you need to rely on your strategy, not on a dream, to get you through.

Action Line: I’d like you to remember that so far this century, the S&P 500 has declined peak to trough by over 30% not once, not twice, but three times. Plan accordingly.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.