Skip to main content Accessibility help
The blue logo for John Hancock
  • Help center
  • Help center
  • For financial professionals

    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
  • For financial professionals

    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    • For plan sponsors
  • For plan sponsors
  • Sign in
    • Retirement plan
    • IRA
    • Life insurance
    • Long-Term Care
    • Individual annuities
    • College savings
    • Mutual funds
    • Safe access accounts
    • Planning portal
    • Home

    • Insure

      Insure

      Protect what matters most.

      Explore insure
      • Term life insurance
      • Permanent life insurance
      • Vitality
      • Aspire with Vitality
      Life insurance to help you live a longer, healthier life.
      Talk to an insurance professional
    • Invest

      Invest

      Make your money work harder for you.

      Explore invest
      Personalized advice to help you meet your financial goals.
      Contact an advisor
    • Retire

      Retire

      Something you can look forward to.

      Explore retire
      Enjoy what comes next
      Make a plan
    • Advice

      Advice

      Financial advisory services with a personal touch.

      Explore advice
      Our financial experts can help you prepare for the future.
      Start here
    • Insights

    • About us

      About us

      Connecting customers and communities.

      Explore about us
      • Community Investment
      • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Our Culture
      • Sponsorship
      Make your impact
      View current career opportunities
    • Help center

      Help center

      Resources, FAQs, contact information and more.

      Get started
      • Retirement
      • Life insurance
      • Long-Term Care
      • Investments
      • Individual annuities
      • Group annuities
      • Other resources
      Have questions about a product or service?
      See how to contact us
    • Home
    • Insure
      • Explore insure
      • Term life insurance
      • Permanent life insurance
      • Vitality
      • Aspire with Vitality
    • Invest
      • Explore invest
    • Retire
      • Explore retire
    • Advice
      • Explore advice
    • Insights
    • About us
      • Explore about us
      • Community Investment
      • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Our Culture
      • Sponsorship
    • Help center
      • Get started
      • Retirement
      • Life insurance
      • Long-Term Care
      • Investments
      • Individual annuities
      • Group annuities
      • Other resources
      • Help center
    • Help center
    • For financial professionals

      • Life insurance
      • Investments
      • Retirement
    • For financial professionals

      • Life insurance
      • Investments
      • Retirement
      • For plan sponsors
    • For plan sponsors

    Your browser is not supported.

    To use our website, we recommend using the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Safari.

    Advice for new investors in times of volatility

    Invest
    Overhead view of a man wearing a silver watch with his hands clasped over his open laptop


    It’s natural for investors (especially new ones) to question their investment options in times of volatility. A dip in the market doesn’t mean you have to hit pause on saving for retirement or a first home. A volatile market can actually be a good opportunity to check in with your financial goals and investing approach. Here are some tried-and-true tactics that can help during natural market ups and downs.

    1

    Diversity is key

    Diversity is always a good idea when it comes to investing. Putting your money in a mix of different assets and industries is one way that can help to limit volatility in your portfolio. For example, historically, in a good economy, stocks often outperform bonds. However, bonds have typically been a better bet when the market drops. Investing in both can lessen the likelihood that your finances will take a big hit.

    2

    Look for opportunity

    A market downturn is an opportunity to buy stocks at cheaper prices. Cheaper prices also mean you can buy a larger number of shares.2  So, if you’re setting long-term goals—like starting a family or paying off debt—investing when the market is at a low point can give you an advantage.

    3

    Play the long game

    One of the most important pieces of advice for new investors is to not act on impulse or emotion. It makes sense to be concerned with daily losses and to consider getting out of the market. But remember, when you invest over the course of a lifetime, down periods will come and go. Don’t get spooked and start selling. Recognize that bear markets (when the market falls 20% or more from the peak) historically last for a shorter time than bull markets (when stocks go back up by 20% or more after a decline).3 Depending on your situation, you may want to sit tight and wait out the turbulence. Ultimately, playing the long game can set you up for success and help keep you focused on achieving your big financial goals. 

    Talk with a Financial Advisor

    Whatever your investment goals are, a Financial Advisor can help you decide on the right approach. An experienced advisor can help clarify your objectives and act as a sounding board before you make any firm decisions about what to invest in right now.4

     

     

     

     

    Invest in your future. 
    Connect with an advisor

    More on this topic

    • Should I prioritize investing or paying off my mortgage?
    • Understanding asset classes for better portfolio diversification
    • How to invest while paying off student debt
    • Passive vs. active investing
    • Rebalancing your portfolio

     

     

    Financial planning and investment advice provided by John Hancock Personal Financial Services, LLC (“JHPFS”), an SEC registered investment adviser. Investments: not FDIC insured – No Bank Guarantee – May Lose Value. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Diversified portfolios and asset allocation do not guarantee profit or protect against loss. Nothing on this site should be construed to be an offer, solicitation of an offer, or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Before investing, consider your investment objectives and JHPFS’s fees. JHPFS does not provide legal or tax advice and investors should consult with their personal legal and tax advisors prior to purchasing a financial plan or making any investment.

    Citations: 

    1 U.S. News: “Why Diversification Is Important in Investing” by Coryanne Hicks, September 27, 2019  https://money.usnews.com/investing/investing-101/articles/why-diversification-is-important-in-investing
    2 CNBC: “How investors can take advantage of market volatility” by Lawrence Sprung, April 2, 2018 https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/02/how-investors-can-take-advantage-of-market-volatility.html
    3 John Hancock: “Straight talk in confusing times” May 18, 2020  https://www.johnhancock.com/financial-advice/ideas-insights/straight-talk-in-confusing-times.html 
    4 Forbes: “6 Tips To Ride Out Coronavirus Stock Market Volatility” by David Rae, April 5, 2020 https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2020/04/03/coronavirus-stock-market-volatility/#4f9e27fe7060

    Individual
    • Annuities
    • College savings
    • Group annuities
    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    • Rollover
    • Safe-access accounts
    • Travel insurance
    Financial Professional
    • Annuities
    • College savings
    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    Plan Sponsor
    • Retirement / TPA
    • Retirement / plan sponsors
    • International group program
    About Us
    • Community Investment
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Our Culture
    • Sponsorship
    • Supplier diversity
    Quick Links
    • Careers
    • Help center
    • Lost or unclaimed policy form
    • Contact John Hancock
    • Manulife Global
    • Manulife Investments
    • Manulife Real Estate
    • Manulife Re
    • © 2022 John Hancock
    • Stock Price
    • Privacy & Security
    • Fraud Prevention Center
    • Legal
    • Accessibility