Question: My 401(k) was doing ok for a while, but since January of this year it has been losing money that I can no longer afford to lose. I want to retire in a year and my 401(k) has lost over 20% and was not that large to begin with. Every month I express my concerns to my adviser, but he says not to worry and that it will bounce back. I do not see that happening anytime soon. What should I do? (Looking for a financial adviser? You can use this tool to get matched with a financial adviser who might meet your needs here.)

Answer: In general, a 20% loss for someone retiring in a year suggests the account may be invested too aggressively, says certified financial planner Daniel P. Forbes of Forbes Financial Planning, Inc. That said, certified financial planner Grace Yung of Midtown Financial points out that this is a midterm election year and historically, midterm election years are volatile due to uncertainty. “We have many other factors contributing to the current market action like high inflation, rising interest rates and geopolitical instability,” says Yung.