A common mistake investors make is to lose patience and sell at or near the bottom of a downturn. But even if you have decent timing and get out early in a decline, you still have to figure out when to get back in. A bear market is not usually characterized by a straight-line decline in stock prices. Living with a market decline isn't easy, but if you understand these lessons, you'll be a more intelligent investor. As measured by the unmanaged Dow Jones Industrial Average.
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