Business Rundown: Despite Last Week's Big Selloffs, Experts Agree "Don't Panic"

What Happened?

Last week, the stock market experienced a significant sell-off, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping over 1,000 points in a single day. This caused widespread concern among investors, many of whom are now wondering what to do with their portfolios.

What the Experts Say

Despite the recent volatility, most experts agree that investors should not panic. They point out that the stock market has historically experienced periods of volatility, and that these periods have often been followed by periods of strong growth.

• "The stock market is a long-term game," said Edward Jones financial advisor, Abe Ghobriel. "Don't let short-term fluctuations scare you out of your investments."
• "If you're invested for the long term, the best thing you can do is stay the course," added CFP Board's director of financial planning, Diahann Lassus.
• "It's important to remember that the stock market is not a one-way street," said Investopedia's Caleb Silver. "There will be ups and downs, but over the long term, the market has always trended upwards."

What to Do Now

If you're concerned about the recent market volatility, there are a few things you can do to protect your investments:

1. Stay invested: Don't panic and sell your stocks. If you sell your stocks when the market is down, you're locking in your losses.
2. Rebalance your portfolio: If your portfolio is too heavily weighted in stocks, you may want to consider rebalancing it to include more bonds or other fixed-income investments.
3. Dollar-cost average: This is a strategy of investing a fixed amount of money in a stock or fund on a regular basis, regardless of the market's performance. This can help you reduce your risk and smooth out your returns.
4. Seek professional advice: If you're not sure what to do, consider seeking advice from a financial advisor.

Conclusion

While last week's market sell-off was certainly concerning, it's important to remember that the stock market is a long-term game. If you stay invested and ride out the volatility, you're likely to come out ahead in the end.