much ado about volatility

The markets have become volatile once again, as concerns about China's economy add to fears of a global economic slowdown. Add to that volatility in oil prices, changes in the relative strength of currencies, and expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will gradually raise interest rates, and the result is uncertainty in the markets.

“Nothing causes investors to question their strategy and worry about their money like dramatic moves in the markets,” says John Sweeney, Fidelity executive vice president of retirement income and investment strategies. “A natural reaction to that fear might be to reduce or eliminate any exposure to stocks, thinking it will stem further losses and calm your fears, but that may not make sense in the long run.”


In fact, what seemed like some of the worst times to get into the market turned out to be the best times. The best five-year return in the U.S. stock market began in May 1932—in the midst of the Great Depression. The next best five-year period began in July 1982 amid an economy in the midst of one of the worst recessions in the post-war period, featuring double-digit levels of unemployment and interest rates.