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If you’ve lost a large amount of money in the stock market, you are not alone. Though it can be difficult to overcome the stress of losing money, it is possible to recoup some of your losses. Some things you can do if you have started to lose a large amount of money in the market include:

• Let your financial professional know when you think you’re in over your head and need help. The financial markets are complex and unless you have a good amount of time to devote to learning about it, you probably don’t understand everything. Don’t be shy about asking.
• Make it clear that you’re in charge. Financial professionals are making decisions with your money, but it's yourmoney. If you feel they're taking on more risk than you want to take with your money, be firm and tell them to stick to your investing goals.
• Insist on getting the time you need to make a clear decision.

Now that you know what you have, find out what you need to have when you retire -- and how to make it last during retirement. This number may be frightening, but it will help put you on the right track.

If you are close to retirement, and have lost more than you can recoup before retirement, it's best to earn as much as you can to make up for your losses. Though it’s a disappointment to delay your "golden years", you may have to postpone retirement for a while. If you are already retired, another options is to seek out low-stress, part-time work to give you a stream of steady income.

If you know of someone who’s lost big in the stock market, offer your moral support. Some people have lost significant amounts of money, and need to mope for a bit before they are ready to jump back into more financial planning. You cannot replace the money or the time he or she has poured into choosing stocks and making a financial plan. At this point, giving your emotional support is the best thing. Once your friend feels less gloomy and sees a silver lining in rebuilding his or her portfolio, you can nudge your loved one in the right direction and help him  get started again.

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