www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 3, 2016 | 32 Managing emotions critical to successful investing: Watson continued from p.30 Her recommendation was to have an investment strategy in place to protect yourself and then follow that strategy whether the markets are up or down. In nancial planning terms, we refer to this as investing for the long term. Investing is risky and without the security of a long-term strategy and discipline to follow it, individuals will have far inferior returns. Investors have to anticipate how they will react to declining stock market values, and if they are likely to sell at a loss, it is our opinion they might not be suited to make these kinds of investments in the rst place. A good measurement of your ability to stick to a longterm investment plan is to consider how you reacted when your portfolio decreased in value during 2008. Managing your emotions is a critical ingredient to successful investing. Being defensive with your investments should be based on evidence. Do what research shows to be the best solution. Diversify your investments by maintaining an appropriate asset allocation mix between stocks and bonds. Strong diversi cation is necessary in managing risk. Stock diversi cation should include having a signi cant part of those assets outside of Canada. Not all markets are identical, so normal ups and downs are often less volatile when they are mixed together. We know that stock markets are volatile. Stock markets are not predictable, but your behaviour should be. -- Submitted by Peter Watson, MBA, CFP , R.F .P ., CIM, FCSI., Certi ed Financial Planner Follow Oakville Beaver staff on Twitter: @OakvilleBeaver, @NewsHooked, @DavidLea6, @JuliaLeReporter, @HerbGarbutt, @PostBeaverSport and @Halton_Photog Won't Be Beat If you find a cheaper price, simply show us and we will match.* the 88sSALe 1 NESTLÉ PURE LIFE NATURAL SPRING WATER 24 x 500 mL eau de source naturelle 88 lb 4.14/kg 88¢ PC® WHOLE WHITE MUSHROOMS 227 g, product of Ontario or 1 88 FRESH CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS or THIGHS BIG Pack!TM or HALAL tray pack pilons ou hauts de cuisse de poulet frais ou poulet halal SAVE 1.09 Check your local store for hours of operation. SAVE 91¢ lb ICEBERG LETTUCE product of U.S.A. champignons blancs entiers ou laitue Iceberg Flyer prices effective from Friday, March 4 to Thursday, March 10, 2016 in Ontario stores only. WON'T BE BEAT® program restricted to major supermarket competitors within these stores geographical trade area. Other conditions and restrictions apply, please see our distributed flyer or in store for details. We reserve the right to limit quantities. While quantities last. No rainchecks. We reserve the right to correct any unintentional error that may occur in copy or illustration. ®/TM Trademarks of Loblaws Inc. and others. All rights reserved, used with permission ©2016 Loblaws Inc. Michael's NoFrills Van Spall's NoFrills 125 Cross 1395 Abbeywood Avenue Drive OAkVille #WeSaveLives Because THEIR life is on the line. Enrol today. Oakville locations 345 Lakeshore Rd. East, Suite 312 180 Oak Park Blvd., Suite 107 YD.COM | (905) 842-6846 Register your new driver for an express 4-day driving course over March Break. Young Drivers' exclusive Collisionfree!TM driving maneuvers are their best defence on the road.