Now that several major news groups have projected Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election—and Congress appears divided with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans the Senate—it’s a good time to review what type of legislative support would be needed to pass certain proposals.
In August of 2020, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a change in how the Fed views inflation. In the past, the Fed said it would consider adjusting short-term rates when inflation approached 2 percent. But in light of 2020’s many challenges, the Fed’s new policy may allow inflation to run above 2 percent for a period of time before any shift in monetary policy is considered.
With all of the storm and stress of the year 2020, you’d be forgiven if you momentarily forgot that we’re due for another national election in November.
Many states will be selecting governors, representatives, and senators, while the country itself will be voting in the presidential election.
However, now that the major party presidential tickets have been solidified, we will likely be hearing more and more political discussion in the coming months.
How are you feeling these days?
The COVID-19 outbreak has put tremendous pressure on stock prices, prompting some investors to blindly and indiscriminately sell positions at a time when the entire market is trending lower. Worried investors believe “this time it’s different.” When the market drops, some investors lose perspective that downtrends, and uptrends, are part of the investing cycle. When stock prices break lower, it’s a good time to review common terms that are used to describe the market’s downward momentum.
A correction is defined as a decline of 10% or greater from a recent high in the financial markets. Corrections can last anywhere from days to months, but few have lasted longer. Recently, we’ve seen a bumpy ride, and many people are looking for context as to what this might mean for their financial future.
Stock prices have bounced in-and-out of correction territory, as investors attempt to measure the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus. During periods of volatility, it’s important to remember that stock market corrections are not unusual and represent a normal part of the investing cycle. While the performance of any single year can deviate significantly from historical norms, on average, we see bear market corrections of 20% or more about every 3-4 years. The current situation of the market reacting to COVID-19 is impactful, but markets adjust all the time.
Knowledgeable investors are aware that investing in the capital markets presents any number of risks – interest rate risk, company risk, and market risk.
Risk is an inseparable companion to the potential for long-term growth. Though some risk can be mitigated through diversification, it does not eliminate the risk of loss if security prices decline. Chances are, this is a risk you were very willing to take when you started investing for your future.
Did you know? As an investor, you face another, less-known risk for which the market does not compensate you, nor can it be easily reduced through diversification. Yet, it may be the biggest challenge to the sustainability of your retirement income or other goal funding.
By Michael J. Searcy
In our current market, we’re seeing changes daily and some are drastic enough to spook even the most seasoned investor and cause them to make decisions outside of their best interest. How have the market changes been affecting you?
If you were to ask yourself whether you make decisions based on headlines and short-term volatility scares, you would probably believe those issues wouldn’t affect your behavior. We tend to believe that we will always make the most rational, considerate decisions. However, controlling your emotions during volatile markets and staying rational isn’t as easy as you might think.
For many Americans, the assets in their Individual Retirement Account represent a significant portion of the wealth they hope to leave to their loved ones. You may have heard that creating a trust and naming it as the beneficiary of your IRA is a good way to direct how your assets are distributed after your death and force your heirs to “stretch” the IRA for generations.
However, trusts and inherited IRAs are complex vehicles that have a lot of details to get right. Here are some of the pros and factors to consider regarding naming a trust as a beneficiary of your IRA:
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.