The stock market goes up and down on a daily basis, and to the extent your retirement plan is invested in stocks, so will the value of the stock or "equity" component of your retirement plan. However, if the stock market increases over an extended period of time while your account balances in your retirement plan are decreasing, or even if your plan balances are increasing not in line with the changes in the market, there might be a problem. Ask an investment professional for advice and consider consulting with an attorney.

(Reviewed 9-08)