By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Whether you’re in retirement or saving for it, experts say there are ways to protect your nest egg, regardless of the state of the economy.

The best way you can prepare yourself for the market’s ups and downs is to educate yourself, according to financial advisors.

“I am a firm believer that educated investors are our best clients,” says Vincent Serratore, president and chief executive officer of Medford-based Heritage Financial Group, Inc. “They don’t have to know how the watch works, but they should know what time it is.”

Education first
Being educated about the market means knowing the difference between  high and low-risk investments and understanding what constitutes a realistic return on your investment.

Though individual portfolios differ vastly, those preparing for retirement usually have higher-risk portfolios than those in retirement. A more conservative portfolio, best suited for those in retirement, might include preferred stocks, which often guarantee a stock dividend; and municipal bonds, or loans issued by states, cities, and counties to pay for public projects. Serratore also suggests taking out insurance on your portfolio by purchasing options, which give you the ability to buy or sell stocks to protect against a market downfall.

Experts recommend investing across different market sectors, but they say there is no one formula that works for everybody.

Seasoned investors
Though many say we may be in the midst of a bear market, or a downturn of at least 15 to 20% in multiple indexes, the Investment Club at Linden Ponds isn’t  losing too much sleep.

“I doubt that anything the market does would really shake us,” says Bernard Goodwin, treasurer of the club and one of its founders. “Most of us have had money in the market for decades; we’ve been through it before.”