More than a third of investors said they've shied away from risky investments over the last six months, according to a new survey released by TD Ameritrade.
That's 12 percent more than the same survey issued three months ago, and most of the blame lies in a sluggish economy––both in the U.S. and overseas, says a firm representative.
“The slow recovery of the U.S. economy, Europe and its ramifications on global and domestic economies, and the political situation in the U.S. are all weighing heavily on the minds of retail investors,” said Tom Bradley, president of retail distribution, TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Whatever optimism consumers are beginning to regain hasn't settled with investors, according to the survey. Forty-seven percent said they were optimistic about the U.S. stock market this time around, nearly 20 percent fewer than those who were optimistic in April.
The findings are echoed by the Investment Company Institute, which, according to NPR News, puts the rate of households with money in stock or mutual funds at 46 percent, down from 59 percent in 2001––a $70 billion dollar drop.
Caution might be the trick of the trade as investors renew faith in their portfolios, but it's important to know the right time get aggressive, notes U.S. News & World Report's David Francis.
"As people become more comfortable with investing and as their wealth grows, many shift from a passive strategy to active investing," he says, though it's ideal to find a balance. Ask your portfolio manager to help come up with an asset-allocation system that leaves room for both––and keep it diversified.
An unconventional way to endure uncertain economic times might be to hit the yoga mat, says Betterment's Johanna Scott.
" A volatile market is a challenging yoga pose – only much scarier. If we can keep calm, breathe, and focus on the end goal when the going gets tough, we have a higher chance of improvement than if we just react to what feels good in the short term," she says.
DON'T MISS: 12 stellar properties you can buy for under $150,000 >More From Business Insider