Martin Lewis shares advice as ‘panic’ grows over ‘lost’ investments | Personal Finance | Finance

Martin Lewis has issued some timely advice to investors amid growing concern over tumbling markets, reminding the public that stock market losses are only real when they’re locked in.

As global markets experience fresh waves of volatility, social media has seen a surge in users claiming they’ve “lost” thousands in investments, with some expressing fear and confusion about what to do next. But Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, took to X to bring a dose of clarity to the panic, urging people to keep a level head and think long term. He posted: “Many people talking about ‘losing’ money in investments because of the market turmoil.

“Worth remembering the two prices that really count (barring dividend payments) are the price at which you buy and the price at which you sell. Fluctuations happen in the stock market.

“In fact, that’s what it’s built on. They need to be accepted. Investing is about risk.”

Lewis went on to explain that risk doesn’t necessarily mean something dangerous – it simply reflects the potential for a range of outcomes. That includes the possibility for big gains, as well as losses.

He said: “Risk shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing, it actually means ‘variation’. For most, though, if you picked a good investment and the fundamentals are sound, then hopefully over the longer term you will sell it for far more than you bought it for.”

His advice comes at a time when major indices like the FTSE 100, S&P 500 and tech-heavy NASDAQ have seen significant swings, rattling inexperienced investors and long-time savers alike.

For Lewis, the real danger isn’t the temporary dip in value, but the “crystallisation” of those losses by selling at the wrong moment.

He said: “The big problem is for those who for life reasons need to sell when prices are down, as they crystallise the loss.”

The money expert encouraged anyone with a financial advisor to seek personalised guidance, but for those without one, his message was clear: “Don’t panic.”

Lewis’s advice echoes long-standing investment principles, markets rise and fall, and investing should always be a long-term game. History shows that patience and perspective often pay off more than knee-jerk reactions.

The key, he insists, is to assess whether your investment still holds strong fundamentals and to avoid making emotional decisions during market dips.