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As the previous article suggests, 2018 might be a difficult year for stock market investing. Yes, a 9-year bull market could stretch to 10 years. However, the longer the bulls keep running, the greater the chance that they'll have to pause for breath, and an exhausted equities market will sag. Risk reduction can be just as important as profit potential at current stock values.
One approach to risk reduction is to sell stocks and put the proceeds into cash. That may turn out to be a good move now, but it's also possible that you'll miss another good year in the market while earning virtually nothing in cash.
Another way to play defense is to review your asset allocation. If your investment plan is to have a 60/40 portfolio, stocks to bonds, equity gains might have moved that ratio to 70/30, for example. Trimming stocks and increasing bonds to get back to 60/40 probably would make your portfolio less volatile.
Safety in numbers
One additional defensive tactic could be to reduce your holdings of individual stocks, then shift some assets into mutual funds and ETFs. A fund with 50 holdings is not as likely to be decimated as a portfolio...