Finance1 min read

Market sell-off hits hard: Advisors say 'stay the course with an eye on buying'

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The market retreat pulled the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite down 5.5% into correction territory, while the S&P 500 sank 4.4% in its steepest single-day drop since April 2025. Despite the downturn, a CNBC flash poll of 38 advisory firms found that over three-quarters advised clients to stick with their current strategies or simply review asset allocations against target goals. Professionals emphasized that regular 401(k) contributors naturally capitalize on dollar-cost averaging when acquiring cheaper shares. Although Nasdaq futures indicated an early Friday rebound led by chip stocks, experts reiterate that adhering to a long-term plan outperforms market timing.

Key points

  • Investors should resist hasty portfolio moves and maintain their long-term customized fin…: Investors should resist hasty portfolio moves and maintain their long-term customized financial plans.
  • Regular contributors to 401(k) plans can take advantage of dollar-cost averaging by buyin…: Regular contributors to 401(k) plans can take advantage of dollar-cost averaging by buying equities at discounted prices.
  • Heightened emotional panic during sharp drops should be treated as a signal to re-evaluat…: Heightened emotional panic during sharp drops should be treated as a signal to re-evaluate individual risk tolerance rather than an excuse to time the market.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Top financial advisors aren't urging clients to change their portfolios after Thursday's sharp market sell-off, even as retail investors were heavy sellers of individual stocks.

In a Thursday flash poll of advisors from CNBC's Financial Advisor 100 and Financial Advisor Council, more than three-quarters of respondents said investors' first steps should be to check their allocation against their goals or stay the course. The online poll, conducted from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, was sent to 121 firms and 38 responded.

Retail investors sold individual stocks Thursday as technology stocks tumbled, and the Dow gave back its post-midterm election gains. The S&P 500 suffered its worst one-day drop since April 2025 on Thursday. Analysts linked the sell-off to fears of a data center construction slowdown following major Democratic election wins.

The Nasdaq Composite tumbled 5.5%, closing more than 10% below its most recent high and putting it in what Wall Street regards as a correction. The broad-market S&P 500 lost 4.4%, while the Dow fell more than 1,800 points, or 3.4%.

When to hold tight

Yet, financial…

Finance