For this month’s Reality Check, we wanted to discuss how one should deal with all of the events that are being highlighted by the financial media as the drivers of the markets decline.

While increased volatility in the capital markets is not pleasant, with a longer-term focus, this volatility is just noise. The best strategy is to tune out the noise from the many sources that are influencing you to react. Planning, combined with a disciplined strategy, is the best way to chart an appropriate course to help you create a comfortable income that you will likely not outlive, while helping you to accomplish your long term financial goals.

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For this month’s Reality Check, we are revisiting a familiar topic: Volatility. We have become all too familiar with it as the world continues to deal with COVID-19. The way we perceive volatility is clouded by what we perceive as normal. Recency bias, the financial media and our own personal experiences with investing all tie into that perception of normal.

To better explain the normalcy of Volatility, we have decided to share a recent post from Carl Richards of the Behavior Gap. Carl has an ability to illustrate complex behavioral financial terms into very simple sketches and analogies. To read the full text from Carl, please visit his website. 

If you any questions about this topic or wish to receive our Reality Check emails, please don't hesitate to  contact us.

Every month, our firm sends out a Reality Check to our clients. The topic varies month to month, but it typically covers various aspects of behavioral investment counseling and financial planning. On the heels of the recent volatility over the past week, we thought it would be useful to provide a few paragraphs from a commentary written by Brian Wesbury, an Economist at First Trust, that put a lot of the recent events into perspective. 

Regardless of what the financial media is stating as the cause of this pullback, i.e. Fed Rate Cute, China, Trade War, Current Administration, etc., you must understand that it is only temporary.  Following the herd and reacting to the volatility can do irreparable harm to your plan.  As Nick Murray says, repeat the following mantra: This time is not different. This too, shall pass. Of course, these moments can still be stressful and by no means should you ignore stress.

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For this month’s Reality Check, we offer Nick Murray’s timely and insightful commentary from his most recent newsletter to Advisors. The “Client Corner” portion of his newsletters is directed to individual investors and cover a vast array of topics. His writing style is always very entertaining and I hope you enjoy this month’s piece.

Due to copyright restrictions, this cannot be made available through our website.  In  the order to receive a copy of this piece, you will need to contact us directly here.  

If you any questions about this topic or wish to receive our Reality Check emails, please contact us.