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Markets are shaky but that doesn't mean investors should hop on the worry train.
The S&P 500 is down about 4.5% so far for the year. Certified financial planner Richard Rosso projects those with a portfolio of various stocks and bonds are down about 1% to 2%.
Rosso said those with a balanced portfolio shouldn't worry as if they're down any more than that. They will likely look at their portfolio and see that they're down, but not as much as some "experts" or media professionals would suggest.
"When you look at markets over time, you should get pulled back to five percent at least three times a year and corrections of ten percent or more at least once a year," Rosso explained. "We have forgotten that volatility is the price of admission to the stock market."
Some headlines from a few media outlets have made it sound like the world is over because of how the stock market is looking. Their panic-mode publications could also be scaring investors.
"The data is that it's noise right now in markets," said Rosso, shocked by some of the headlines he's read. "If I were someone who didn't study markets and just read the headlines, I would be hiding under a desk, but that is not what's going on."
Rosso said the economy that was once government-driven is transitioning back to the private sector under President Trump. He admitted that the ride would be bumpy but within the scope of volatility, this is normal.
"As a matter of fact, the volatility that people are experiencing right now, investors and markets, is within the normal range over last 30 years so when it comes to volatility, this is a little v," said Rosso.
The biggest thing Rosso says investors should focus on moving forward is their 5-year, 7-year and 10-year investing goals. He expects increased volatility this year.
"You have to meet with your advisor, you've got to add perspective to what's going on, you have to look at the timeframe and if you're not comfortable with the risk, you're going to get a bounce in the market to readjust," Rosso added.