<prompt> Human: First time investor, and I have just started an IRA with Vanguard, putting about 5000 into the 2055 Target Retirement Fund. However, in the past six days, my value of the investment has decreased 227. How normal is this? It has been a -5.03 value difference in such a short time!I realize that stocks are quite variable, but my question is if this is the standard when investing in funds like this.  <response>: If you havent sold anything, you havent lost anything. Youre in a retirement fund and are stating an interest in retiring in 39 years. Put money into the fund and look at it in 37 years, stop focusing on minor fluctuations. It has been a -5.03 value difference in such a short timeIn 1987, the SP lost 27 of its value in a single day and closed at 224. Its currently at 1990. People who focused on the market and declared it a scam or risky lost out on growing their money over 800...before dividends are even considered. That was about 30 years ago. Just something to think about. 