One of the most common reasons people give as an excuse to not invest is fear of market fluctuations. And that is a valid fear. No one wants to lose money. But, as Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant is change.” 

It’s the same with investments. While “market volatility” sounds intimidating, it really just means the market can move up and down, so don’t get caught up in the crazy up- and down-swings! Historically, everytime the market goes down it’s followed by an upswing.

So here are some steps you can follow when the numbers start to seem scary: 

• Take a deep breath.
  The first step to battle fear is to combat it with knowledge, and you already have that part down! You know that the market will go up and down, so when you hear something that makes you anxious, try to ground yourself with some deep breathing, take a walk outside, and make your favorite snack or comfort food.
  
• Hit ‘Pause’ on emotional...