A good way to lower risk is to spread your money among a variety of investment products instead of putting it all into a single investment.

Another good way to diversify your investments is to invest in several companies, industries or areas of the globe.

Planning involves having a good game plan and sticking to it. Your plan should include:

• How long you want to invest for
• The return you expect
• What actions you’ll take if your investments fluctuate.

With a good game plan, you’ll be less prone to react emotionally to steep market gains and losses.