To Check or Not to Check, That is the Question!

[MachineGhost]

Is it better to check or not to check?

If you check, you are submitting yourself to a guaranteed emotional high or low.

But if you don't check, you are submitting yourself to the tantalizing siren's call to check.

I find both equally to be annoying.

When I fire up Quicken to download statements, I intentionally blind myself to not looking at the net worth total, but do not always succeed. 

So what would work, densensitization through constant checking or outright avoidance via out of sight, out of mind?

Discuss!

[Khisanth]

It's like an addiction. I think - I'll just check it in the morning and then go about my day. But then I end up peeking constantly throughout the day.

Like if there's candy on the countertop, I'll be eating it. But if I didn't buy candy in the first place, then I have a much better chance of not eating it.

I think I've done a pretty good job of looking but not touching with the PP though.

[Benko]

But if you don't check, you are submitting yourself to the tantalizing siren's call to check.

If you pay attention, you will notice that the mind frequently "suggests" things that are not in your best interests i.e. you frequently have thoughts that are not in your best interests to follow.  The more you give into your mind, the harder it is to resist the mind (and the worse you life is).

[notsheigetz]

I check when things are going pretty well like they were for most of this year until lately. If they aren't going so well I don't look. If you don't intend to do anything about it, what is the point in making yourself feel bad?

[SteveGo]

Once a month, after the market closes at the end of the month. I already made my decision about the PP, so I am just recording the data...

[smurff]

It may sound corny after H. Sandy, but one of the things I'm thankful for is that most of my financial assets are in the PP.  Not having to worry about checking the markets, whether I would be wiped out when markets reopened, all that I did not have to worry about alongside the current weather-related trials and tribulations. The PP really does bring peace of mind, no matter what bad talk financial advisors have to say about it. 

[longeyes]

I check quarterly for rebalancing purposes. That is it.

[clacy]

I check my actual portfolio 2-3x/week, although it's rare to have a day go buy that I don't at least see a ticker and know what the asset classes are doing. 

About once per week, I add up my various accounts and keep sort of a running total. 

I seem to have a pretty good handle on my emotions and don't make investment decisions in the heat of the moment.

I have to admit, that it is nice to know that your portfolio is in good hands when I go on a vacation or business trip and can't be as active in the markets.

[l82start]

i have posted this before but for what its worth..

"i have my own pattern for checking the PP, i have only had a PP for couple few years so the pattern may change with more time in...
  so far my pattern has been checking with increasing frequency in the months before April 15th comes around (contributions and re-balancing and figuring taxes all happen around then so i have reasons to be looking) then i check it every day or two for the weeks following that, and after a couple weeks i end up checking maybe once a week, then once a month by the time the first 1/4 to1/3 of the year is gone by i am letting it ride and seldom bother looking at all till the months before tax time come around again...  i don't tend to worry about the little ups and downs much, so this pattern seem to satisfy both my curiosity about how it is working/works and the leave it alone philosophy... "