"These moments show you whether you’re an investor or speculator."

Central Florida financial planners are telling clients to stay the course in the stock market, even as coronavirus fears have plunged Dow Jones and other markets to historic losses.

In fact, some say buying might be a smart move right now because the markets tend to rebound from catastrophic events, with the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and the 2008 economic crisis serving as examples.

“There is a giant ripple effect, especially in Orlando. That is the hardest part," said Marisa Bradbury of Sigma Investment Counselors. “Many are just worried about how to pay next month’s bills. But if you do have money invested and you are maintaining a long-term outlook, you have to ride it out and hang on.”

Read more at the Orlando Sentinel