If you have money invested in the stock market, you probably feel like you have been on a rollercoaster ride. When I look at my own portfolio, I see red all over. Fear can make us do things that are detrimental to our long-term investment strategy.

Before you sell anything, ask yourself the following two questions:

Have there been any material changes to the structure of the company, forecasts for the future, leadership that would make you reconsider owning the investment?
- If No, determine what is driving your decision to sell. Is it fear, uncertainty, etc. Will selling result in your desired outcome?
- If Yes, evaluate your overall investment strategy and decide how to proceed. With the markets as volatile as they may have been, it may suit you better to let the dust settle. You have to decide if you are comfortable taking a "wait and see" approach.
Is the money invested in the market "long-term money"? Meaning, do you have 18-24 months before you plan to access the money?
- If No, this poses a problem. If you sell in a down market, you are capturing the losses. Could you pull money from savings to satisfy short-term financial needs?
- If Yes, based on historical performance, the markets bounce back when given time.

Reading this may leave you with more questions than answers, but there should be no cookie cutter responses to financial decisions. Everyone’s situation is unique and should be handled individually. Instead of allowing fear to drive your decision making process, take some time to review your financial goals and make sure the decisions you are making are in line with achieving your goals.