Bear Markets are a Necessary Evil
This article appears as part of Casey Weade's Weekend Reading for Retirees series. Every Friday, Casey highlights four hand-picked articles on trending retirement topics and delivers them straight to your email inbox. Get on the list here.

Weekend Reading
Enduring a bear market can feel like watching your life's work and dreams waver; but as recent podcast guest Larry Swedroe reminds us, bear markets aren’t just unfortunate events. They are a necessary evil that make the rewards of investing possible.
READ THE ARTICLEWithout the pain of occasional market declines, the stock market would not offer the strong long-term returns that you may rely on today.
In that light, Larry highlights some vital truths:
📌 Risk and Return are Inseparable: Higher long-term returns require enduring periods of loss
📌 Discipline Beats Emotion: Fear and panic lead investors to sell low, while patience often pays off
📌 A Plan is Your Lifeline: Anticipating bear markets in your strategy—not reacting to them—is the key to protecting and growing your wealth
Remember: Bear markets will test your resolve, but with a solid plan tailored to your life's meaning and goals, you can stay the course and come out stronger.