If you feel like the market has gone down and up, and down and up again, you're not alone. I’d be lying if I said at times that I wasn’t anxious, too. We talk about it a lot, markets are volatile, headlines are unnerving, and the future makes us feel uncertain. It’s a lot to process.
Yet, good investors are usually good historians. We can learn a lot from the past, despite the standard disclosure I often state that "past performance is not indicative of future results". History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes and can gives us a whole lot of perspective.
We can look back to the 70s and see a whole lot of reasons not to invest; the oil embargos, military conflicts, Y2K, 2008, Brexit, and Covid. Every time we thought "This time is different", we eventually made it through and the economy kept growing.
In fact, through 13 recessions and 11 bear markets over the last 70 years, U.S. stocks have delivered average annual returns of about 8%. (1 Morningstar)
Investing through a retirement lifetime is a journey, and there will be moments that test our patience. But if there’s one thing experience has taught us, it’s that the tough times don’t last—and resilience always shines through. The market has weathered storms before, and so have we.
History gives me hope and encouragement.
We have taken steps to build portfolios and financial lives to give you a good experience.
No portfolio is perfectly protected from short-term pain. But the goal isn’t perfection. It’s durability. We want you to have clarity and confidence in retirement.
If there's one thing the years have taught us, it's that challenges come and go—but strength and resilience carry us through.
If you want to discuss your financial strategy, or even just share what’s on your mind, you can reach me here. This is exactly the kind of moment we plan for.
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P.S. Market commentary speaks to general trends, not your unique financial picture. Your portfolio’s performance is guided by your personalized strategy, aligned with your goals and comfort with risk. And that’s exactly how it should be—because your plan is designed with you in mind.
Sources:
1. Morningstar, 2025 [URL: https://www.morningstar.com/economy/what-weve-learned-150-years-stock-market-crashes]
Risk Disclosure: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only.
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