From Strength to Strength
“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
I’m reading a book titled “From Strength to Strength”, a phrase/idea that is likely familiar to most of us, and it got me thinking about the concept. Boy, do we like that of idea of a perpetual movement from strength to more strength. The turn of phrase is so beautifully simple (and deceiving!) in its omittance of any explicit step between its starting point and destination. We painfully know from our life experience though that the road to better and higher is often only possible through occasional struggle. Just like putting more weight on the bar at the gym or pushing into that extra mile on a training run, the journey from strength to strength is most often through challenge.
What’s true about life is also true in investing and we are no doubt in one of those normal and expected nerve-testing periods in financial markets. In fact, bear markets are quite common, though we know that doesn’t necessarily make them feel any better when we’re in them. Rare is the person that says “hard times?… bring it on!”
Here’s what we want to keep in front of you for comfort and confidence:
This will pass. Bear markets are temporary and expected part of our road to solid long-term investment returns. It typically takes one to two years for the painful part to play out; we are nine months in.
We are proactively working on your behalf. Steps taken to date:
- Scaled back risk, where appropriate, into market strength prior to downturn
- Added real estate, again where appropriate, for current income & inflation hedge
- Kept our bond maturities short to better position us to improve portfolio returns as interest rates rise. We are seeing the benefits of this now.
- Constant tending, monitoring, and adjusting of the companies we own in our stock portfolio
There is Reason for Optimism: Good companies, real estate, and other investment assets are on sale! This means buying opportunities and strong investment returns once the skies clear.
What’s also true about hard times is that they are much easier when you’re not alone. It’s why we welcome a call or visit any time you or someone you know has questions or when confidence is wearing thin, and why we will continue to reach out with market updates or call to check in to get the latest update from you. We are not interested in having a relationship that goes quiet when things get hard… we want to be in the whole journey together. And in times like these, good communication is critically important in keeping your investment strategies appropriately aligned with your goals.
On that front, we wanted to invite you and any friends to join us next Wednesday, October 19th at 1:30pm for a webinar offering our perspective on the current market and why we remain confident in our investing future together.
With Optimism,
Dustin
