There's a saying on Wall Street: "Bull markets don't die of old age."
But some investors worry that the bull market in U.S. stocks will end sooner than later.
Worried? Consider these investing tips.
Don't try to time the market. While it's painful to ride out hard times or invest when stock prices are near record high levels, take heart knowing that the stock market's long-term average return is 10 percent annually for buy-and-hold investors. If you want to do something, consider tweaks to your investment strategy — buying alternative assets, foreign stocks or different kinds of assets within the U.S. market.
Stay in the market. "You don't want to be out of the market entirely, but if you don't like the pricing of stocks right now, there's nothing wrong with holding cash until you do," said Brad McMillan, chief investment officer at Commonwealth Financial Network.
Open a money-market account that pays an attractive rate (several banks offer 1.75 percent APY or higher) and invest in the market over time, McMillan said. This strategy, known as dollar-cost averaging, helps ensure you don't invest all of your money at the market's peak.
Diversify, diversify, diversify. A well-diversified portfolio should include a mix of different assets (including stocks and bonds), and diversification can be especially comforting when the stock market is on shaky ground.
If stock prices drop and stay down, expect slower economic growth, lower earnings and the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. All that runs counter to what is currently happening. Central bankers are expected to raise rates two more times this year.
