Don’t panic about short term losses

You might be worrying about short term losses given the current economic situation and the downturn in the markets. No-one likes to lose money.

Bear in mind though that short term losses don’t represent the end of long term plans. You need to adopt the right mindset to be able to ride out short term losses and focus on your future goals.

Hold on to your investments when the going gets tough

It’s impossible for investors to predict the future and whilst short term losses can be unsettling, holding steady through the ups and downs is the best way to reach your long term investment goals.

A key to successful investing is to keep focused on your long term objectives rather than allowing short term trends distract you. Holding on to your investments when times get tough is a proven strategy for staying on track.

Volatility in the market is quite normal and feeling uneasy about a lower portfolio value is understandable. But, if you want to give your investments the best chance of earning a return, then it’s a good idea to cultivate the art of patience. The best returns tend to come from sticking with a long-term commitment to your investments.

The longer you are prepared to stay invested, the greater the chance your investments will yield positive returns. That usually means holding your investments for no less than five years, but preferably much longer. During any long-term investment period, it is vital not to be distracted by the daily performance of individual investments. Instead, stay focused on the bigger picture.

Focusing on long-term investment goals

The stock market recovery since the financial crisis of the last decade demonstrated how focusing on long-term investment goals and avoiding knee-jerk reactions in response to the impact of any event, whether political or economic, worked well.

Maintaining a long-term view of at least five years may also help you resist the temptation to attempt to time the market. Typically, the longer you are prepared to stay invested in the stock market, the greater the chance of your investments producing positive returns. Selling your investments when markets take a downturn simply means you are turning paper losses into realised ones.

In it for the long term

Success in the stock market is all about time and patience. However, it’s understandable that when you put your money into the market, you will be tempted to check up on how your investments are performing on a regular basis. Seeing investment prices fall, sometimes with alarming speed, can be enough to panic even the most experienced of investors.

But, whatever happens in the markets, in all probability your reasons for investing won’t have changed. For example, your aim may still be to cover education costs for your children or grandchildren or saving for retirement. A buy-and-hold investment strategy is likely to serve you best for these long-term goals.

Re-balance for stronger diversification when the time is right

For all investors, there will come a time when the portfolio needs to be rebalanced. A major reason for a realignment is when the actual allocation of your assets – be that shares, government bonds, corporate bonds or cash – no longer matches your risk profile. Alternatively, it may be because your investment horizons have shortened. Maybe, for example, your retirement date is getting closer. These are solid reasons for selling some assets and buying new ones to keep your investments appropriately diversified.

It might be tempting to spend any income generated by your investments, but if you don’t need it in the short term, it makes sense to reinvest it back into your portfolio. When you reinvest dividends, you can dramatically increase your annual returns and total wealth.
Also be mindful that the value of investments can fall as well as rise. You may not get back what you invest.
Success in the stock market is all about time and patience – ‘time in’ the market rather than ‘timing’ the market is crucial. Please contact Matthew Bromley, Chartered Financial Planner at Cowgills Wealth for further advice or visit our website here.

This article is for general guidance only. It provides an outline, and may not include points which are important to your situation. You should not depend on this blog without taking advice based on the full facts of your case. The information given was correct at the time of publication. The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.