So what does flu season have to do with your investment portfolio? While your portfolio can’t actually catch the flu, it can get pretty sick if you don’t pay attention to it.

There are almost daily reminders that it’s flu season and we should get vaccinated. If you’ve ever had the flu, you know it’s not something you want to experience again. As a matter of precaution, many people go to a healthcare provider to get vaccinated in hopes of avoiding it. The flu is not just a nasty cold either; we know it can be deadly to the most vulnerable so it’s not something to take lightly.

We are alerted to seek help for many different things, not just the flu. Even our cars tell us when something needs attention. They probably could have come up with a nicer term for the in-car dashboard warnings than “idiot lights,” but they serve a purpose. Unfortunately, when it comes to your investment portfolio, there’s no big blinking light in your car or home to tell you it needs attention. The nightly news doesn’t run stories on the dangers of ignoring your investment portfolio, or that it’s time for you to schedule a review. Many people seem to live in blissful ignorance, unaware of the money made or lost on a day-to-day basis on their investments. One thing’s for sure, as we enter retirement or get close to it, our level of financial awareness definitely rises.

This means it’s up to you, and the importance of sitting with a qualified financial professional to review your retirement plan cannot be stressed enough. There are certain times when reviewing your investments become a little more critical and this is one of them. We are approaching year-end and that means tax season is right around the corner. This is the time to make sure you are properly planned for next year and have a solid strategy in place for the future.

If you haven’t visited with a financial professional, or it has been longer than a year, it’s definitely time. Let’s put it this way, if your investment portfolio were a car, all of the dashboard lights would be blinking at you. If you think maybe it’s time to have someone review your investment portfolio and retirement plan, great news. You can get it done for free! Many qualified financial professionals offer a complimentary, no-obligation financial review. Setting a meeting for a financial review can not only give you the answers you need, but is also a great setting to get to know the financial professional a little better. Let all the flu season coverage remind you that it’s also time to get your portfolio checked. At least this dose of preventative medicine doesn’t involve getting a shot.