The U-S stock markets closed steeply lower on Friday, as investors were worried about the partial government shut down that happen just a few hours later and the federal reserve looking to raise interest rates.
Friday ended 5 days of selling that ranks the worst week for the Dow Jones Industrial Average since the finical crisis that hit in October of 2008. 2018 has been a very volatile year for the stock market, with some days with record highs and some days with big losses, but financial experts say this is where investor patience is important.
“You do have to be patent, you have to make sure you are investing in quality. That’s the important thing for a lot of people. Trying to find what is hot right now, doesn’t always work," says Matt Metzger an Investment Adviser and owner of Metzger Financial Services. "Trying to find something that is consistent, invest in quality, invest in solid companies, invest in things that you are comfortable with, you know might know a little bit about. Investing in things that you don’t know or don’t understand can lead to problems.”
But no matter what way the stock market is trending, it is always important to talk to your financial adviser about how your portfolio is looking.
“Sometimes nobody wants to talk about there fund when the market is up, everybody wants to talk about it when it is down. You need to do both, you need to have those constant communication," adds Metzger. "Annual reviews are imperative, being able to sit down with a finical planner, being able to sit down with your accountant. Especially right now it’s a very good year end, beginning of a new year, being able to have that conversation with a professional is something that people should do.”
The stock market will only be open until 1 o’clock on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas Day, so we may have to wait until Wednesday to set how investors respond to a down week.
