What I am doing to stay on top of markets during scary times
Allow me to begin this month’s article by saying it’s an honor to be your advisor. I don’t take it lightly and I am so happy that you placed your trust in me.
Some context: I came into the financial advising business in 1998. Some of the things I’ve seen during my 22 years are
· The dot com/tech crash
· “Y2K”
· The 9/11 Terror attacks
· The recession of early 2000’s
· The Real Estate and mortgage crisis of 2008
· Market meltdown in 2008/2009
· The re-election of President Obama in 2012
· Ebola/SARS/MERS
· “Brexit”
· The election of President Trump in 2016
· Corona virus
All the above caused at least some people to worry about their money.
I’ve experienced a lot. What I’ve learned over my decades in this business is that while markets are resilient, often investors are not. Why is that?
I think it’s actually quite simple. I worry about things that I am not expert in myself. The medical field is a great example. Whenever I or my family is sick or hurt, I worry. Why? Because, although I can read and Google things, the truth is that I am not a dedicated medical professional and certainly I am no doctor. So I can “research” things but I actually have no ability to even decipher what I am reading. Is it accurate? Is it a quality take on my situation? I don’t know and I can’t possible catch up to the medical experts and the decades they have spent in their field.
So I worry. And that is normal. In fact, it’s probably the correct response. If I didn’t worry, then do I even care? My family’s health is really important to me. Of course I worry! I’m no robot. Emotions are normal. But I engage a doctor, someone I trust, to decipher the information and then…I trust them.
So it’s completely rational for my clients to worry when markets have a significant downturn. And although you will worry…you’ve hired me to worry MORE than you. Let ME stay on top of the daily news and pay attention to what’s going on. You don’t need that stress. You aren’t paid to do it and the truth is, you won’t be as good at deciphering the real news from the hysteria as I am. I’ve got 22 years in the trenches on this. It’s what I do.
So what, exactly, am I looking at on a daily basis (and even more so during turbulent times)?
Basically, I am watching the various markets…domestic, international, emerging, small, large, value, micro stocks etc. I watch them all day. I have them all saved on my phone and am constantly monitoring what is going on in these markets. I want to see where they move in a given day. Then I compare the movement to your portfolio. Is the portfolio moving in the direction that makes sense based on the markets? If so, we are ok. We have built your portfolio in a very scientific manner and we have an investment policy statement that guides us. We rebalance your portfolios according to this.
So what would make me worry?
It’s not the DIRECTION of the markets per se. It’s if your portfolio isn’t moving in accordance with how we have built your portfolio. If I ever see THAT, then you can count on a call from me because something is broken and I won’t allow that. But if it is moving up and down based on larger markets (not just the U.S. market) then nothing is “broken”. And I’m not worried.
In addition:
If you are my client, it is highly unlikely that you are 100% invested in stocks. You are likely invested in stocks around the globe as well as high quality short term bonds. Also, you likely have insurance products that we placed on your balance sheet to be non-correlated (they move in the opposite direction of stocks) assets to global markets.
We don’t put all eggs in one basket and watch the basket…we put eggs all over your balance sheet and I am watching that balance sheet.
What would make me panic?
The fall of Capitalism would make me panic.
Outside of that, I am a highly seasoned financial advisor (means I’m getting old!) who has decades behind him and decades ahead of him. Let me do the “worrying” and the daily tracking. In the meantime, if you are experiencing problematic emotions over this recent market swing, then you CALL ME!
I can be reached on my business cell phone at 901-468-6655.
The information contained in this material was based on information that was current prior to the expiration date. This historical material should be used as a reference only and may not be indicative of current circumstances or facts.
Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 4275 Executive Square #800 La Jolla, CA 92037 619.684.6400. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Insurance products offered through WestPac Wealth Partners and Insurance Services, LLC, a DBA of WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC. CA Insurance License #0D34103 AR Insurance License #2195027 | 2020-96488 Exp. 03/22
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