5. Will U.S. stock market indexes continue to slide?

Nobody knows the answer to this one, but by now you have read the headlines: It was the nastiest December since 1931 for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, contributing to the worst annual performance for U.S. stocks since the 2008 financial crisis.

Before you panic, remember that stocks have fared pretty well over the past 9.5 years and most investors have diversified portfolios, which means that they are likely down less than the headlines proclaim.

Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at askjill@ jillonmoney.com.