Verified by 
I am sure that the downward trend in the stock market hasn’t escaped your notice. The question is to what degree it impacts your life in retirement and how you deal with the internal turmoil and fear that radiates from your statement to your brain.
Let’s start with some very basic ideas:
First, everyone’s risk tolerance is different and what makes one person nervous and upset may not phase someone else.
Second, bear markets and recessions are as normal as up years and flat years.
Third, the more you are locked into the cycle of watching bad news, the more anxious and upset you are likely to become. Let’s face it, good decisions rarely spring out of anxiety, depression, or fear-based thinking.
What can you do about it?
Begin with assessing your current financial position and level of spending, and how your nest egg is currently allocated (equities, bonds, level of diversification, costs, etc.).
Work with a planner who is a fiduciary (acts in your best interest) and can help guide you. Make sure you know whether there are any conflicts of interest between the planner and the advice provided.
If you do not have a written road map (aka a financial plan), put that on the top of the list; after all, your financial well-being is more than just your portfolio.
Dig into the variables. For example, how does a recession impact your long-term success? Is your level of spending sustainable? What situations could materially impact your security?
If you are living in dread and fear and are increasingly anxious about volatility in the market, it may be time to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor who can help you manage the stress. Do not underestimate the damage done by living in a state of anxiety. The impact on health and well-being is well documented.
This is not a time to panic, but it might be time to make some changes if your current plan is not aligned with your values. Think about what’s most important to you and make sure your financial roadmap reflects that clearly.
