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The markets are giving many investors fits, and I'm getting more than a few questions on retirement plans at the moment.
Specifically, 401(k)s.
I'm hearing from a lot of folks who are scared to death they're going to lose everything, while others are simply fearful about what's next.
Either way, a little perspective can help.
Here's what you need to know.
Crashes - regardless of cause - tend to raise lots of questions at the most inopportune time.
That's totally understandable.
Far too many people find out the hard way that they've been speculating, not investing. And, react accordingly if not also predictably.
Social scientists chalk this up to something called "time-urgency," and it's a classic Type-A behavior, according to Dr. Michael Ashworth.
There's a twist when it comes to your money, though.
People in this position simply don't understand the difference between urgency and importance. That's why the sensation "I gotta do this now" is so very powerful.
The Complete Guide: The coronavirus has erased trillions of dollars from global markets, yet this can be one of the most important wealth-building moments in your life - if handled correctly. Here's what to do...
Perspective really does matter at times like the present because that's what gives you the strength needed to marry short-term actions with long-term results and consistent profits, practically no matter what the markets do next.
Speaking of which, let's dive in with a few of the most pressing 401(k)-related questions I've received.
Q: Should I sell everything and run for the hills?
A: That depends entirely on the timeframe you're dealing with.
If you're a millennial, for example, you may have 20 or more years before you need the money, in which case selling out would potentially be the worst and most expensive mistake of all. Everything just got put "on sale" at once-in-a-lifetime prices.
If you're a boomer and on the cusp of retiring or have recently retired, the situation changes because your primary risk is outliving your money. So, not surprisingly, you have to balance risk and reward more carefully.
Most conventional financial models fail miserably in this regard because they're based on outdated life expectancy. Most people are simply living longer so more (intelligent) risk is in order rather than less as is commonly believed.
If you need your money within the next few years and you're losing sleep, then selling becomes a very real need, not just an option. The question is how to do that intelligently and what is enough.
Ask your financial advisor specifically what's right for your situation to be sure!
Q : Should I scale back contributions to my 401(k) if there's more selling ahead?
A: I'd actually argue for the reverse in many cases. The markets, as we have discussed many times, always reward discipline. That's why now could be an ideal time to max out contributions that can help you take advantage of the market's decline. Obviously, that has to be fine-tuned depending on where you are in the age spectrum we just discussed, but that's a minor concern.
What you want to focus on intently is how you turn the Coronavirus situation into an opportunity that matches your unique circumstances.
Dollar Cost Averaging, a Total Wealth Tactic I've written about many times, can help you do that by making sure you "buy low and sell high" every time, not just once in a blue moon.
That said, you're not alone if you're anxious about what's happening. But don't confuse that with the knee-jerk reaction to sell everything.
Your body is simply telling you that your portfolio doesn't match up to your risk tolerance and expectations. That's an easy fix using another Total Wealth Tactic we've talked about frequently: Rebalancing.
Q: What do I do if I'm about to be laid off?
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About the Author
Keith is a seasoned market analyst and professional trader with more than 37 years of global experience. He is one of very few experts to correctly see both the dot.bomb crisis and the ongoing financial crisis coming ahead of time - and one of even fewer to help millions of investors around the world successfully navigate them both. Forbes hailed him as a "Market Visionary." He is a regular on FOX Business News and Yahoo! Finance, and his observations have been featured in Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, WIRED, and MarketWatch. Keith previously led The Money Map Report, Money Map's flagship newsletter, as Chief Investment Strategist, from 20007 to 2020. Keith holds a BS in management and finance from Skidmore College and an MS in international finance (with a focus on Japanese business science) from Chaminade University. He regularly travels the world in search of investment opportunities others don't yet see or understand.