Educate yourself. You don't need to know the intricacies of how markets operate, but a little financial understanding is, I believe, a must for everyone.

Also, be aware that even when you do educate yourself and you do everything you think is in your power to 'safe guard' your nest egg, that there are are still a billion and one ways that it can all be wiped out tomorrow.

Micro managing you're finances if you don't know what you're doing is a fantastic way to wipe it out. As the good old saying goes, “The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent.”