Investors have had everything thrown at them this year: good, bad, oil, Greece, China, lower interest rates, and lots of volatility. Think of it as a cheap practice run for the tougher periods we’ll inevitably face in the years ahead. We say cheap because the third quarter decline was smaller in magnitude than a dozen positive quarters we’ve had since the bull market began in 2009, and with the market gains so far in the fourth quarter, diversified portfolios are now well up for the year.
There’s much to be learned from such a bizarre year, which makes it an ideal time to do a self-assessment and make sure your portfolio is suited to your long-term objectives and temperament.
There are a few simple steps you can take. We walk through them here.