These are the words that make investors irrational.
“This time is different.” Beware those four little words. They are perhaps the most dangerous words an investor can believe in. If you believe “this time is different,” you are mentally positioning yourself to exit the stock market and make impulsive, short-sighted decisions with your money. This is the belief that has made too many investors miss out on the best market days and scramble to catch up with Wall Street recoveries.
Stock market investing is a long-term proposition – which is true for most forms of investing. Any form of long-range investing demands a certain temperament. You must be patient, you must be dedicated to realizing your objectives, and you can’t let short-term headlines deter you from your long-term quest.
If stocks correct or the bulls run away, keep some perspective and remember how things have played out through some of the roughest stretches in recent market history.
Where is the Dow today compared to fall 2008? Where are the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, the Russell 2000 compared to back then? And how has gold fared in the last few years? While the Federal Reserve has played a significant role in this long bull run, record corporate profits have played a major role as well.
What happens when investors believe those four little words? They panic. They sell. If they are mostly or wholly out of equities when the bulls come storming back, they run the risk of missing the best market days.
We’re looking at a turbulent stock market right now. This is the time for patience. Withdrawing money from a retirement savings account (and the investment funds within it) might feel rational in the short term, but it can be hazardous for the long term – especially since many Americans haven’t saved enough for retirement to start with. A recession is a few quarters long, not the length of your retirement; a bear market may right itself faster than presumed, and you want to be invested in equities when it happens. If you have questions about your money when jitters hit the market, turn to the financial advisor you count on as a resource.
This material was prepared by Peter Montoya Inc, and does not necessarily represent the views The Retirement Group or FSC Financial Corp. This information should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named Representatives nor Broker/Dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If other expert assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information or call 800-900-5867.The Retirement Group is not affiliated with nor endorsed by fidelity.com, netbenefits.fidelity.com, hewitt.com, resources.hewitt.com, access.att.com, ING Retirement, AT&T, Qwest, Chevron, Hughes, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, ExxonMobil, Glaxosmithkline, Merck, Pfizer, Verizon, Bank of America, Alcatel-Lucent or by your employer. We are an independent financial advisory group that specializes in transition planning and lump sum distribution. Please call our office at 800-900-5867 if you have additional questions or need help in the retirement planning process.The Retirement Group is a Registered Investment Advisor not affiliated with FSC Securities and may be reached at www.theretirementgroup.com.