Some Timely Reminders

Whatever the financial markets are doing presently, I think it’s always a good idea to remind ourselves of who we are, what we believe and what we do and maybe more importantly, what we don’t do.

Far too many people either don’t see, don’t get, or ignore what I’ve written below. And that can be very costly. You have my permission to pass this correspondence on to anyone you think might need to see the light.

If you were/are looking for commentary and/or perspective on the current state of the economy, geo-politics, the financial markets or your specific plan, without apology, you won’t find it below.

What you’ll find below is a well-timed, daily-dose of Beck’s behavioral investment counseling. If this doesn’t get you back to a peaceful place, please call me ASAP.

That said, if you want to discuss anything not covered below, you know how to find me. Operators (well, just me) are standing by.

So, here ya go. Read it once silently all the way through. And then, if no one else is around, read it out loud, with gusto. If you read this aloud while others are present, you just may be starting a movement.

When others think they’re losing money, we know that we don’t realize a loss unless we actually sell.

Where others see risk, we see natural and expected volatility (which provides our long-term, much-needed returns).

Others think, “This time it’s different”, we know that it may feel different, but it’s never different enough to bail on our plan.

While others predict, forecast, prognosticate, and speculate, we focus on your goal-focused plan to guide us.

Others capitulate and realize their losses, unless our life goals and plans change, we stay the course.

While others become glued to the “breaking news”, we stay focused on our lives and our PLAN.

They fear “the stock market”, while we love owning shares of great companies for the long run.

A lot of folks see volatility as risk. We not only see it as something that’s natural and expected, but moreover we see it as the admission ticket to the much-needed, long-term return.

Others have a market outlook. We have a time-tested investment philosophy.

While others sit in fear and panic, we sit calmly in faith, patience, and discipline.

While others may react emotionally and irrationally in time of uncertainty, we must act/behave rationally in times of uncertainty.

While the world seems loaded with pessimism, doom, and gloom, while we’re full of optimism, as it’ the only realism that squares with the facts and the historical record.

While others focus on what the markets will do in the short run (which is unknowable), we focus on what the markets do for us in the long run.

They see “stocks” as risky, we see owning shares of great companies as a conservative plan to maintain and/or increase our purchasing power (is there any other goal?).

Some think the world is (figuratively and literally) ending. We know the world isn’t ending, because the world doesn’t end.

While they believe they might be able to time the market, we know that it’s time in the market that really matters.

While others see a decline as a permanent loss, history has taught us that declines (when it come s to the broader market) are temporary.

When they’re panicking, we simply shrug and get on with our lives.

They think it’s about the “stock” prices, we focus on the value (earnings) of the underlying company.

They focus on big point swings. If we’re looking at anything at all (beyond our lives and our plans), it’s percentages.

During markets declines, when others stop buying or worse, begin selling, we stay the course or look for opportunities to buy.

While others feel that “the sky is falling”, we know that “this too shall pass”.

What they do is considered “normal”. What we do is not just counter-intuitive, it’s downright counter-cultural.

While they rely on human nature (their feelings), their friend’s opinions and the shrill of the media, you have us, your trusted and caring team with over 100 years of combined experience, available to you pretty-much 24/7, 365.

If any part of this doesn’t make complete sense, please call us at your earliest convenience. The coffee is always hot and we can help.