Close eye on your investments

WUPW - At one time many treated investments like a crock pot - fix it and forget it.

Let your money cook up your retirement savings.

But things have changed.

When the market took a dive last year, some people lost half their retirement. Skiddish, they feel they need to constantly check the temperature of their investments to avoid getting burned again.

It's no wonder Brian from Waterville is questions how often he should review his holdings.

The first inclination is to check more frequently, but that could actually do you more harm than good.

"Don't torture yourself and be logging in five times a day to check what its worth," said David Elrod of Generations Financial Group. "Find an appropriate level that's going to work. A lot of times, just leaving it alone and not worrying about it will keep you from making rash decisions. If you're checking everyday it will tempt you to make decisions that ultimately hurt your performance."

At least once a year, get a full review of your investment holdings. But keep in mind, the more money you have in the market, or the riskier your investments, you might want to review more often - maybe once a quarter.