You’ve seen these headlines. Maybe your hand even moved toward your phone to call your advisor. Here’s what you need to know before you ever do that again.

It’s 9 PM. You’re watching the news. A red ticker flashes across the screen. A serious anchor says the market has crashed. Your chest tightens. You open your investment app. You see red numbers. Your first thought: “Should I get out before I lose everything?” You are not alone. This happens to millions of investors every single day. And almost every single time it’s the wrong move.