Here's What We Think

We can't control a lot right now. Our day to day lives. Our work. Maybe even our health...it's all scary to think about. And as we all know, we definitely can't control what's going on in the stock market. So lets make sure that we're controlling the areas of our life and our finances that we can. Here's one: Make it your mission to understand the tax opportunities ahead of you and the tax discounts staring us all in the face right now. Be proactive. Don't let this financial low point go to waste!

I explain, in the excerpt below, a bit about my own financial plan and how I'm thinking about my own investments, time horizon, and future. Well, I'm writing this on March 24th, as the stock market has gotten relentlessly pounded for two weeks straight. It's brutal. Have I changed my tune from what you're about to read? Not even a little. Over the past two weeks, I've added MORE money into all of my investment accounts because I see this as an opportunity...great companies are on sale! Compared to 3 months ago- because the market is down so much- I'm able to buy more shares with the exact same dollar amount! So, (as long as I have the cash flow and don't need the money in the near term) Sign me up! Here's why time is on my side...

Writing about whether the next stock market correction would come in 6 weeks or 6 months (below)...I had no idea how real my words would soon become. It's actually chilling to think back to when I wrote about what we're currently living through as merely a distant hypothetical. And yet...nothing has changed. So yes, we're in a devastating stretch...it could go on for the next month or for the next 22 months...I have no idea. But here is what I know...This TOO SHALL PASS. As every single market crisis has before. The words below are just as true as when I wrote them 6 weeks ago...but they are about 1000 times more important to believe in your heart today.

Many of us are living through our first REAL stock market meltdown. For myself & most of my 30-40 year old clients, we either weren't out of college yet or we weren't making enough money (and didn't have enough money certainly!) for the pain to really reach us on a physical and emotional level. So this all feels new...which makes it feel even scarier and more unnerving. I get it...and you're not wrong...it is both of those things! But, please, take the time to ask your parents what they did in 2008...and knowing what came after, what they would have changed in their investment behavior if they could? And read my post below...because, trust me, it seemed like the world was coming to an end back then...and then it didn't. This too shall pass.

Do you watch the weather channel all day when you see sun and clear skies for the weekend forecast? My guess is probably not. Why am I asking you this? Because similarly in the financial world the TV talking heads, magazines, fund managers, guest economists on the CNBC panel, and the like, have no vested interest in sharing the sort of behavior driven and common-sense financial planning tips that we share with our clients.