The U.S equity markets are making new all-time highs. Of course at one time the Dow Jones Industrial 30 had an all-time high of 200 then 1000 then 2000 then …….18,000.
Some investors are considering moving their money out of the stock market. Because the markets are at all-time highs. The market has to go down because it is at an all-time high.
Since no one can predict the future, this is a huge mistake.
You must decide if you are a gambler/speculator or an investor. Gamblers believe they can out guess the market and avoid all losses. The gamblers have proven numerous times to be wrong, in the long run. One may get ‘lucky’ but no one can consistently market time.
In markets like these diversification is your buddy.
Proper diversification spreads risk across various asset classes with varying return characteristics or dissimilar price movement. Simply said: they don’t do the same thing at the same time.
Most investors are narrowly diversified into top performing funds or classes of the last five to ten years. They often feel diversified but aren’t.
To be diversified means including classes or types of funds in your portfolio that did poorly over the last five to ten years. If you do this, your portfolio will look and perform very differently from your neighbors’ or friends’.
There will always be something in a truly diversified portfolio that you will not like. This will be true every year.
It seems every day I am asked what will the market do today or this week or this year? Or what stock will do best? Or can you beat the market? Or is now a good time to buy into the market? Or is now a good time to sell?
Those of you which are my clients own portfolios which are professionally diversified and rebalanced much like the large pension funds.
Over time these portfolios will help you successfully accomplish your investment goals.
There will always be someone touting a ‘new’ strategy that will protect or insulate you from the current risks. These Wall Street bullies want you to believe they can predict the future and earn you stock market returns with Treasury bill risk. What you end up with is Treasury bill returns and stock market risk.
Find an investor coach/fiduciary adviser who will help you build a prudent portfolio designed for you. And more importantly keep you disciplined during both up and down markets.
Process and discipline will lead to a successful outcome.
To succeed in investing you must own equities….globally diversify…..rebalance.