Should You Fear The Next Bear Market?

The past several weeks were a wild ride for investors. The Dow experienced a daily drop of 800 points and there was an inversion of the yield curve. Trade disputes continue to persist and there are negative yields on the sovereign debt in many developed countries around the world. Furthermore, there are now impeachment proceedings and geopolitical challenges around the world.

If these news stories alone didn't spark nerves, watching one's investments fluctuate significantly over the course of such a short time period can make even the most aggressive investor feel a bit queasy. This short-term volatility in a year filled with extraordinary returns for most asset classes is enough to cause many investors to wonder, "Should I fear the next bear market?"