How Often Should You Check Your Portfolio? Experts Say You're Doing It Wrong

The quick scan: Monday delivered a reality check that had investors feeling like they'd just been reminded that gravity still exists. Markets pulled back from their recent record highs as President Trump announced plans for 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea, proving that even the best parties eventually need a bathroom break.

• S&P 500: Dropped 0.8% to close at 6,228.47, snapping its back-to-back gains like a rubber band that had been stretched a bit too far
• Dow Jones: Sank 422 points (0.9%) to 44,406.42, logging its worst day in three weeks and reminding everyone that blue chips can have blue Mondays too
• NASDAQ: Fell 0.9% to 20,415.11, tech stocks apparently deciding that Monday was a good day to practice humility after their recent victory laps

What's driving it: Trump's tariff announcements sent ripples through markets as investors tried to calculate the potential impact on trade relationships and corporate earnings. Sometimes the market needs a reminder that geopolitics can still crash the party, even when the economic fundamentals look solid.

Bottom line: Monday's pullback suggests that even record-breaking rallies need to catch their breath occasionally. When markets have been climbing steadily, a modest retreat often feels more dramatic than it actually is—think of it as the market's way of saying "let's not get ahead of ourselves."

The Portfolio Peek Paradox: Why Checking Too Often (Or Never) Is Ruining Your Returns

The scoop: Here's a question that keeps financial advisors up at night: how often should you actually check your portfolio? According to experts at Investopedia, most investors are doing it completely wrong—either obsessively refreshing their apps like they're waiting for a text from their crush, or completely ignoring their investments like that gym membership they swore they'd use. The sweet spot? Once every three months, with some exceptions that might surprise you.

The problem is real: about 40% of people check their retirement accounts at least once a month (hello, anxiety!), while 17% never check at all (goodbye, opportunities!). It's like the investing equivalent of either staring at a watched pot that never boils or forgetting you left something on the stove until the smoke alarm goes off.

Here's the kicker: both extremes can seriously damage your long-term wealth building. Check too often, and you'll make emotional decisions based on normal market volatility that would make a day trader blush. Never check, and you might miss rebalancing opportunities or discover your asset allocation has drifted so far off course it's basically in another time zone.

The expert-approved checking schedule:

• Quarterly reviews for most investors: Financial planner Marguerita Cheng recommends checking at least once every three months—enough to catch any major issues without inducing panic over daily market hiccups. Think of it as your portfolio's quarterly performance review, not a daily wellness check.

• Monthly check-ins for "supersavers": If you're maxing out contributions and have complex investment strategies, monthly reviews help ensure you don't accidentally over-contribute to tax-deferred accounts or miss opportunities to reallocate surplus funds. It's like being a helicopter parent, but for your money.

• Case-by-case basis depending on your style: Sibyl Slade from IntegriVest Wealth Advisors suggests tailoring your approach to your contribution patterns and goals. Heavy contributors need more frequent monitoring, while "set it and forget it" investors can stick to quarterly reviews.

• Balance is absolutely key: The goal isn't to become a day trader in your 401(k), but you also can't just "set it and forget it" completely. You want to stay informed without becoming obsessed—like being a concerned parent rather than a stalker.

Actionable takeaways:

• Set calendar reminders for quarterly reviews: Schedule specific dates to check your portfolio rather than randomly peeking when markets are volatile. This removes emotion from the equation and creates a disciplined approach to monitoring.

• Focus on allocation, not performance: When you do check, look at whether your asset mix still aligns with your goals rather than obsessing over daily gains or losses. Your 60/40 stock/bond split might have drifted to 70/30 without you noticing.

• Resist the urge to make immediate changes: Checking doesn't automatically mean trading. Most of the time, the best action is no action—timing the market is extremely difficult and frequent trading usually hurts long-term growth.

• Use technology wisely: Set up alerts for major account changes or rebalancing needs rather than constantly refreshing apps. Let the technology work for you instead of becoming enslaved by it.

• Consider your emotional tolerance: If checking monthly makes you lose sleep or second-guess your strategy, stick to quarterly reviews. Your mental health is worth more than any potential minor optimization.

Your Turn: Are you a portfolio stalker who checks daily, or more of the "ignorance is bliss" type who hasn't logged in since 2019? Have you ever made an investment decision you regretted because you were checking too often during a market downturn? Drop a comment below and confess your portfolio-checking habits—I'm curious whether knowing the "right" frequency will actually change anyone's behaviour, or if we're all just going to keep doing what feels natural!