You may have heard this scenario before: a friend or acquaintance takes a long break from investing to attend to personal or family matters. The list of reasons is long, ranging from major life events such as marriage, furthering your studies, buying a house, or starting a family. But what if you have to start investing again after a pause? Here’s the truth: it’s not as simple as picking up where you left off. Over time, circumstances have changed—both in the business world and in your personal life. Before diving back into the stock market, consider these key factors.

Resetting your expectations

Financial planners always stress the importance of considering major life events when determining your insurance needs. The same principle applies to investing. Your life goals may have changed since you last invested. Some of you may have paused investing to focus on preparing for marriage or buying a home. Or maybe a...