Retirement investing in a crisis: Keep calm and carry on

AT A time of sharp volatility as we're seeing in markets today, investing can be a fearful experience. But it can also be a rational, systematic exercise.

Retirement investing in particular may be fraught with minefields. One, your emotional state can wreak havoc on long-term intentions. Two, a sudden change in circumstances - the loss of employment, for example - could necessitate withdrawals from your portfolio at a time when its value is down. And three, if you are already a retiree, regular withdrawals for spending at this time when market values are down could prematurely deplete the value of your portfolio.

There are approaches, however, that can help lift the anxiety from retirement investing. We've gathered some insights from financial advisers and strategists.