When the markets seem to turn against you

You’re a patient investor. You understand that the rewards for your diligence are won over time. You’re willing to give up potential extra return because you know the importance of balance—having bonds in your portfolio because they help absorb the blow when stock markets get rocky. You’re in it for the long run.

So, what do you do when the markets seem to turn against you? I wrote just four weeks ago about equity markets that had fluctuated wildly even in the course of a single trading day. I wrote then about the several reasons to expect more volatility ahead.

What do you do when those days of markets falling and then rising give way to markets falling and then falling some more? You’re the same investor, with the same goals and the same long-term view. You haven’t changed, but have the markets? You fear they’ll keep changing, and not for the better. And they may—but not forever.

Why we look to the long term

A new dimension of risk has entered the financial markets with heightened tensions in Ukraine. It’s not something the markets needed when they were already dealing with brisk inflation and preparing for an expected cycle of interest rate hikes from most of the world’s central banks.

We know this, however, about equity markets in the context of geopolitical risks: they’ve been resilient, much as markets have always been resilient in the face of various risks. We expect the markets to work themselves out, reaching new heights over time and at varying paces. These rises will sometimes be punctuated by sharp declines. This is how it works.

So now is not the time to give up your fortitude. Now is the time to take it all in with a deep breath, knowing that this day would come—and knowing that it will pass. I wish I could tell you when it will pass. That, unfortunately, is not how it works.

In the meantime, if the markets throw your mix of stocks and bonds out of kilter, you may have a good opportunity to restore them to your desired state. Rebalancing is a useful strategy for ensuring that your asset allocation continues to suit your goals.