Tips for Surviving a Stock Market Crash
Investing in the stock market can be a great way to build long-term wealth. When you are looking to invest in the market, you will find that bull markets can provide a lot of growth and strong investment returns. However, there are also bear markets and random stock market crashes that can be harder to deal with. Fortunately, there are several tips that can be followed that can make it easier for you to deal with a stock market crash. Don’t Get Emotional: When a stock market crash is taking place, the most important tip to follow is to avoid getting emotional. When the stock market takes a deep dive down, it is very easy for people to panic and want to sell all of their stock. While they may be able to avoid some further temporary losses, they most likely will end up missing out on the rebound as well. This can make it impossible to ever catch back up and investors will end up losing out on a lot of potential. Buy Low: During a stock market crash, it could also be a great time to buy some speculative stocks at low prices. During a crash, many of the most struggling stocks will end up being those that are speculative in nature. While these stocks can increase dramatically during a strong economic
cycle, they can do even worse when things are bad. This can provide you with a great opportunity to acquire a growth stock at a fraction of the price. Focus on Quality: During a bear market, you should also focus on the quality of stocks that you are buying. During periods of prosperity, it is important to focus on stocks that provide a lot of potential. However, during bear markets you should also look at companies that are stable and strong. It could be beneficial to invest more of your capital in companies that have a strong balance sheet and are able to withstand the bear market. You should also look for stocks that continue to pay dividends during the recession. Consider Opportunities: Another advantage of investing during a bear market is that you will receive more opportunities than you would during other cycles. When the whole market is going down, it provides plenty of opportunities to invest in companies that could actually prosper during a recession. Discount retailers and other similar companies can do very well when the market is low, which can provide you with a great opportunity. Monitor Regularly: When you are dealing with a stock market crash, it is also important that you monitor your portfolio on a regular basis. Many people tend to ignore the market when times are bad. While this can help to reduce stress in the interim, it can lead to larger problems in the long-term. A better option would be to continue to monitor the market and their portfolio to ensure they are positioned as well as possible for the future and are properly protected from other risks. Edward Schinik has been with the Investment Manager since 2009.