Market Update - Brutal Quarter
I hope you are out enjoying your life and not looking at the markets at all. It has been a wild past week in the market, and frankly a brutal quarter. Stocks, bonds, crypto currency, you name it, most assets have been hit hard. We are also facing a headwind of inflation that will continue to erode purchasing power for the foreseeable future.
However, it is important to keep perspective. I have included a chart of the S&P 500 index. The US stock market has been on an amazing ride up since it bottomed in 2009. Since that time there have only been a few minor hiccups and one big hiccup in 2020 that was very brief.
Make sure you are talking to your financial advisor to confirm you are invested based on your risk tolerance and how long it will be before you think you will need some of the money. Its been so long since we have had a prolonged bear market(stocks down 20% or more from its high) that we knew a market downturn was coming at some point.
Staying the course and investing for the long term is one of the biggest investing principles that will determine investment success. Please do NOT make any rash decisions! If you are thinking about making some changes to your investment portfolio, please consult a professional first. These are the time when very costly mistakes can be made.
The Bible drives home a the point about building wealth over time, rather than get rich quick. Proverbs 13:11(RSV): "Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it."
I am not able to guess how much farther the market will go down or when it will start to go back up but I am here to talk if you want. Please reach out if you would like to discuss the markets, investments or how to align your finances with your Catholic values.
Written by Phil Francois, CFP®
phil@foundationwealthplanning.com