Morningstar’s Guide to Market Uncertainty

The stock market has gotten off to a rocky start in 2022. Concerns about rising interest rates, inflation, and Russia-Ukraine tensions have led to some dramatic swings in stock market performance this year.

Investors often hear that they should tune out the market's noise and not pay attention to market turbulence. But tuning out can be hard to do–and in some cases, it could be a mistake.

In fact, Morningstar's director of personal finance Christine Benz suggests that investors who are nearing or in retirement should use market volatility as an impetus to re-examine their portfolios. No, she doesn't advise that everyone move entirely to cash. But she does suggest that retirees and the near-retired check up on their asset allocations and consider their withdrawal rates, among other things.

What about accumulators who have decades before they retire? Of course, younger investors have more time to make up for any stock-market losses. But if you're spooked by the market's recent volatility, there are some things you can do.

Here are some of our best ideas for taking control of your portfolio in turbulent times.

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Retirees: Avoid These Traps in Turbulent Markets
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How to Reduce Risk in Your Portfolio Using a Light Touch 
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Emotional Investing: What It Costs, and What to Do About It
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