After three straight years of above-average stock-market returns, it’s no surprise that many investors have come to view market gains as almost inevitable. That confidence was tested during the “Liberation Day” market plunge of April 2025, much as it was during the inflation-driven bear market of 2022. These events remind us that even powerful trends, including the rise of the so-called “Magnificent Seven,” don’t move in a straight line forever. Downturns offer a lesson: Declining markets are a natural part of investing.

Though a down market can be alarming, it could actually be good news for long-term investors who have a plan.

A Correction Isn’t a Crash

A market correction is just what the name implies—a 10% drop in stock prices that occurs when a market rally has gotten a little ahead of itself. The drop may seem a bit frightening, and it’s understandable why many feel a tinge of apprehension. But don’t panic.

Develop and Stick to a Sensible Plan

Timing the market is extremely difficult; some would even say it’s impossible. But that doesn’t stop many investors from shifting their investments into cash in an effort to avoid market downturns. Consequently, they may miss out on some of the market’s biggest gains while they sit on the sidelines.

Rather than trying to time the market, investors should focus on time in the market, allowing their investment returns to compound year after year. Don’t sell just because others are selling. If you sell your stocks after they drop in value, you may end up in worse shape than if you stayed invested.

When you look at quarterly returns for the stock market, it appears to be quite volatile. But viewed over a longer time period, the market appears relatively tranquil—an insight that may be forgotten amid short-term market swings. Buying and holding stocks for the long term may not be exciting, but it's historically been an effective strategy.

Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful

“The more [the market] goes down, the more I like to buy,” investor Warren Buffett said as he bought stocks during a sell-off in 2014.¹ Likewise, you can take advantage of volatility by buying quality stocks at a discount if this strategy makes sense based on your investment time horizon and risk profile. Buying stocks when they’re attractively priced could help enhance the long-term growth potential of your portfolio.

FIGURE 1 shows the effects of three different historical approaches to volatility. Each assumes $10,000 invested on 1986 into the S&P 500 Index² and no taxes or transaction costs. The opportunistic investor added $2,000 in stocks each time the market dropped 8% or more in a month, the buy-and-hold investor made no portfolio changes, and the apprehensive investor shifted assets into cash in the face of volatility. Ultimately, the opportunistic investor had a return that was significantly higher by December 2025.