"Panic is as contagious as any virus"
Looking Beyond Short-Term Volatility
Putting Bear Markets in Context
Since 1928, the S&P 500 has been below the previous peak 39% of the time.

Source: ClearBridge, Anatomy of a Recession. As of March 31, 2020. Annualized returns for the S&P 500 since Jan 2, 1928. Shaded area represents periods when the S&P 500 Index was at least 20% below the previous peak. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged and an investor cannot invest directly in an index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges.
The Importance of Staying Invested
That’s because when the market bounces back, it can happen suddenly and quickly. Missing just 10 key trading days from 2000-2019 would have been enough to reduce an investor’s returns by half.
A Few Days Can Make a Difference

Source: Legg Mason. As of Dec 31, 2019. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged and an investor cannot invest directly in an index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges.
Keep Your Perspective
Stay focused on your goals. What will it take to get you where you want to be on the timetable you have set? Consult your financial professional if you believe that it’s important to consider a change. Another perspective is important.
Resources to Help Investors Stay on Track

Every few years seems to bring a new crisis, yet the market has continued to march higher.

It’s easy to miss out on major gains in stocks when you pull money in and out based on fears.

The S&P 500 has far more years with positive returns than years with negative ones.