Blog Posts

Financial markets are rarely easy to navigate alone, and when you add in economic factors, complex political and global developments and devastating weather events, it can seem even more challenging.

Experience has taught us that successful investing requires discipline and patience. A long-term investment focus can help when emotions run high. While balancing ongoing changes can seem daunting, a steady course can help buffer you against turbulence and uncertainty.

To help you overcome these challenges, we've compiled a list of common mistakes and guidelines.

By Michael J. Searcy

Are you limiting your investment success by letting emotions about market volatility control your decisions? We know that you’re more likely to find success, however you define it, if you have a plan in place. Your plan needs a defined purpose and vision, corresponding goals, and a timeline for measurement. But it’s not enough to just have a plan, you also have to trust your plan. When emotions take over, they can quickly steer you off course. That doesn't mean prudent changes can’t or won’t be made along the way to your goal, but without discipline, you may as well throw your plan out the window or not bother making one at all.

This year has already taken us through some market ups and downs. After months of relative calm, extreme movement in the market can lead to confusion. Fluctuations can be unnerving and it’s very normal to have anxiety, especially when headlines are shouting doomsday predictions to get more attention. Understanding the potential causes of the volatility and having steps in place to get through the fluctuation can help ease your anxieties.

When building a financial strategy, we work hard to create an approach that plans for your longevity and allows you to live a satisfying life. But beyond helping clients prepare for a longer retirement, we are focused on addressing a key goal: Managing emotional reactions.

For many investors, the market’s inevitable fluctuations can make investing feel like an emotional roller coaster. However, letting erratic, short-term market movements create anxiety can lead to detrimental financial decisions.

While much of the political fire and fury from Congress’ tax plan debate has settled, some of the economic smoke still lingers as financial analysts and private investors plot their way through the new $1.4 trillion law’s long-range ramifications.

President Donald Trump signed the historic tax bill into law December 22 following a firestorm of partisan exchanges in the last few weeks that painted near apocalyptic visions if the bill either passed or failed. Republican pundits hail the sweeping tax bill as Trump’s first major legislative victory in office.

We once read an article about what to say when your parents ask you about Bitcoin and it makes sense that even though we’ve been hearing about Bitcoin for years, the concept may not be understood by everybody. The article explains, “Well, it’s like money in that it has value and you can use it to buy goods and services. It’s also like a stock because the value fluctuates based on supply and demand. Unlike stock, there are no dividends, just whatever the bitcoin is worth on a given day.”

A common question that follows the explanation usually seeks to uncover where you find Bitcoins. Bitcoins are virtual and can be accessed from your computer, which acts as a “wallet.” A global system is used to update everyone’s holdings and a sophisticated computer system is used to help track the money. The money is not backed by any government and isn’t regulated like other currency.