How emotions shape investment decisions

Expert insight

November 05, 2025 Fiona Greig, Ph.D. Vanguard Global Head of Investor Research and Policy In a recent interview with Barron’s, Fiona Greig, global head of investor research and policy in Vanguard’s Investor Strategy Group, shared insights on how emotions can influence investor behavior, particularly during volatile markets. She highlighted several key strategies for staying grounded, including: Focusing on the factors you can control. Greig emphasized the importance of focusing on manageable factors, such as costs, contributions, and asset allocation, rather than reacting emotionally to market swings. She also advocated seeking professional or digital advice to help maintain discipline. Planning for retirement readiness. Some unique planning challenges for couples include how wealth is unevenly distributed among retirees as well as the tendency for women to outlive men. Greig stressed the value of having open family conversations about finances, especially before cognitive decline affects decision-making. Reducing your financial stress. Greig discussed the impact of debt on one’s stress level. She also noted that having at least $2,000 in emergency savings has significant practical and psychological benefits, as it can serve as a buffer from spending shocks and improve overall well-being. Related Links Article 7 min read The state of retirement readiness in three charts Oct 20, 2025 Article 7 min read Oct 20, 2025 Article 1 min read Retirement reimagined: Elevating financial well-being Oct 14, 2025 Article 1 min read Oct 14, 2025 Video 19:00 From paycheck to purpose: Retirement unpacked Oct 01, 2025 Video 19:00 Oct 01, 2025 Notes: All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Vanguard Information and Insights Subscribe to Vanguard. Get Vanguard news, insights, and timely analysis on the market, delivered straight to your inbox. Read our online privacy notice to learn about how we keep personal information private. You have certain cookies disabled on the Vanguard site. In order to watch videos on this site, you must agree to the use of cookies provided by YouTube. Click here to permit these cookies and watch the videos.