Major investment loss

Structured approach: assess, contain, recover, and rebuild confidence in future investing.

PHASE 1: Assess & Contain

  • Document everything: transaction records, statements, and communications.
  • Quantify impact: separate realized from unrealized losses and understand tax implications.
  • Stop cascading actions: avoid knee-jerk liquidation without a plan.
Clear records enable better decisions and potential recoveries.

PHASE 2: Seek Advice & Resolve

  • Consult professionals: financial advisors, tax professionals, and legal counsel where appropriate.
  • Explore remedies: claims, insurance, or negotiated recoveries if misconduct occurred.
  • Plan taxes: use losses strategically for tax-loss harvesting where allowed.
Professional input reduces costly mistakes during recovery.

PHASE 3: Rebuild Strategy

  • Revise risk limits: update asset allocation and position sizing rules.
  • Start small: re-enter markets with a conservative plan and clear stop-losses.
  • Document lessons: write a postmortem to codify what went wrong and how to prevent it.
Recovery isn't just financial — it's behavioral.