If you are not close to retirement just zoom out on the charts. You can't predict the future but even after bad crashes the market has come back if you look at it historically. As you get closer to retirement you should naturally have more money in bonds for protection since you need to touch that money sooner. If you wanted to sell stocks into bonds prior to this drop you should have done it 2 months ago. Timing the market can be hard and you can miss serious gains if you don't jump back in at the right time. Most people suck at timing the market. This is a unique time but I believe if it never comes back then we have bigger problems to worry about. With that said, I do have money outside my 401k in VUSXX(Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund) right now since I can physically touch it without penalty. My 401k is for long term. I still am like 25 years away from retirement minimum. I'm protecting money I want to access soon such as a down payment for a second home for example. Since thread is specifically about 401k's that is why I broke it down like that. Do your own research though.