Your retirement investments are in it for the long haul. : After a long, profitable run, the stock markets fell in 2018, then headed upward early this year before retreating to current levels. It might seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite possible if you’re willing to examine some investment returns from the past, then examine your own psyche — and see how they fit together. If you want high returns, you have to take significant risks.