Bear Market Got You Worried About Retirement? Here's What Actually Matters

Hearing “bear market” and thinking about your retirement funds? Normal reaction. But here’s the thing: since 1928, there have been 27 bear markets—and 28 bull markets. The market spends way more time going UP than down.

Fear might tell you to pull your money out when prices drop. Don’t. Research shows 42% of the S&P 500’s best days happened during bear markets. Miss those? Over 30 years, skipping just the 10 best days cuts your returns in half. The 30 best days? Down 83%.

So what should you actually do?

1. Remember it’s normal - Bear markets average 9.6 months. Bull markets? 2.7 years. You’ll be fine.

2. You can’t predict it - Seriously, nobody can time the market. Stop trying.

3. Build a cash cushion - Keep an emergency fund separate so you don’t have to sell assets when prices are down. Let your portfolio recover while you live off savings.

4. Expect multiple rounds - Invest for 50 years? Expect about 14 bear markets. It’s just part of the game.

Bottom line: Bear markets are scary feeling, but historically they’re just market maintenance. The real mistake? Panicking and leaving early.