Challenges exist for anyone playing sports when they are “behind in the count.” It’s a common experience for all athletes. Pressure builds for example, when batting with a count of “no balls and two strikes”, or behind in the football score 21-0. No competitor likes being behind, and extra effort may be pursued to bring about a positive winning outcome. Competitors strive for opportunity to succeed. Isn’t that the way with most things in life – pursue success, not failure?!
Navigating – August Commentary
GPS (Global Positioning Systems) offers us so much information about our surroundings and position in our world. On a recent vacation, we used the Navigate button in our Tesla to direct us efficiently to charging stations to help us reach our goal, home. The system calculated, like an aeronautical map used in aviation, our route with points of interest, neighborhoods, and terrain. It took a few moments as it planned our route to avoid heavy traffic, road construction, and other hazards attempting to ensure the car would have ample charge to reach the next point – charging stations and ultimately home. As we set off, the little red chevron that represented our car began following the planned route inching from right to left across our screen traveling west, north-west. The map was laid out in the standard position with North locked at the top. Our little chevron traversed across the fixed screen. I’m not fond of that traveling presentation. So, I pressed an icon on the top of the screen and suddenly our little chevron was fixed in the center pointing up (forward) as the map turned and moved under it! [Being simple minded, I prefer the chevron pointing the same direction as the car is traveling.] Which way was north, south, east west? Did I care? Cities, roads, and the world revolved around me! My real concern was that we were generally traveling west, north-west toward our goal, home.
“GIGO”, “The World Changed”, and “Bills to Pay” – Nvest Nsights Q2 Newsletter
We hope you are enjoying summer and sunshine. Unfortunately, the financial markets remain stuck in a “storm”. After the difficult first quarter, pain accelerated during the 2Q. There was no place to hide; bonds and stocks together experienced a 2nd consecutive negative quarter each – a somewhat rare occasion.
Against this backdrop and with so many big worries without easy or quick resolution (inflation, Russia/Ukraine, Fed that is intentionally trying to slow the economy to balance supply & demand), it can become challenging to maintain a longer-term perspective. Our newsletter this quarter provides the following context:
- “GIGO” – Do your best to control the type of information you consume, as well as how you react to it. What version of “GIGO” will you be?
- “The World Changed” – A review of market action so far in 2022 and context from history providing clues to what might be expected from here.
- “Bills to Pay” – The “cost” of fiscal and monetary stimulus pursued by governments around the globe in response to the Great Lockdown is being paid in 2022. How is the bill being paid and how long will that last?
- “iPod, iPhone, iPad… now the I Bond” – What are I Bonds, and are they for me?
A printer-friendly version of the newsletter, including benchmarking and fund performance data, can be obtained here: Q2 Nvest Nsights.
We realize how troubling is the current market environment and are here for you. We continue to monitor the backdrop, and be intentional about managing portfolios tactically. Please do not hesitate to call, email with questions, or to coordinate a time to visit together.
iPod, iPhone, iPad… now the “I Bond”
Similar to the steady stream of successful products developed by Apple, it seems the US government hit a homerun with the “I Bond”. Although this US government savings instrument is not a new product, popularity is spiking (along with inflation) in 2022. Through mid-June the government sold $14.4 billion of I Bonds, which is 40x more than was sold in all of 2020! We are receiving a number of questions about “I Bonds”. As interest rates and inflation increase in 2022, the headline attractiveness of this product is enhanced.
So what is a “Series I Savings Bond”? What should investors know about this product?
Special Market Update – “Market Sentiment = Inflation Stress”
“Sentiment” means an attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by feeling; a refined feeling.
Late last week market sentiment quickly soured, like moving from spring to summer in just a few days; sentiment is very concerned about INFLATION and its influence on the future domestic and global economic path. It’s not about economic strength – strong consumer spending, or company sales/earnings – it’s all about how the Fed and other global central bankers will be “attacking” stressful inflation. 2022 is the year of rates – inflation and interest rates (the Fed just raised rates another 0.75% – the biggest hike in a single move since 1994). Inflation is creating demand destruction. Inflation diverts where consumers would otherwise spend. That growing concern is causing investors to rethink their attitude toward stocks and bonds. After approaching these levels in late-May, the stock market officially entered a bear market down -20% on Monday (June 13) following a short-lived bull market which ran just 22 months (from 3/23/2020 and ending on 1/3/2022).
Bowling Bumpers – June Commentary
“Chloe and Miles grew up between the same bowling bumpers that encouraged risks, inflated confidence, and prevented consequences.” The quote is from “Rock the Boat” by Beck Dorey-Stein. Ever bowled where bumpers are placed in the gutters on each side of the lane? Rolling a gutter ball is not possible. This makes bowling fun for young kids and new bowlers. But, this concept is dangerous in real life – putting up “fake” guardrails to prevent bad outcomes; then when the trouble occurs, extending “forgiveness” without consequences. The same concept can occur in life when we are allowed to enjoy our “kicks.” But when the “bumpers” are removed, unwelcome “kickbacks” can occur. When my boys were growing up they were cautioned, “You can choose your kicks, but you cannot choose your kickbacks.”
Special Market Update & Video – “Here Comes the Sun”
When the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein died in 1967, the band needed to handle more of their accounting and business affairs. George Harrison disliked these duties. He wrote “Here Comes the Sun” after attending a round of business meetings. The song was inspired by the long winters in England which Harrison thought went on forever.
Double-Barrel Shotgun – May Commentary
The rivalry between the Hatfields and the McCoys is one of the oldest and best-known family feuds in American history. For nearly 50 years, violence between the two families raged over who owned two razor-backed hogs that swam in the Tug River, a valley area between Kentucky and West Virginia. Even though the feud ended in 1891, they finally shook hands in 1976; a truce was signed by the families in June 2003. With a total of 60 deaths between both sides, it’s questionable that either won. The Hatfield-McCoy legend was embellished by a brief love affair between Johnse Hatfield and Rose Anna McCoy. Not sure if it was true or not – as a double-barrel shotgun is seldom able to bring sweet marital bliss!
Special Market Update: “Escalators, Not Elevators”
Why does investing in the stock market feel like taking an escalator up, and riding an elevator down? Rising markets seem to be slow upward climbs, like an escalator; the rise occurs over extended time (months and years). But, a correction or market pullback occurs quickly (days and weeks, or months), like riding an elevator down. It’s quick. It seems to take a year to earn 10% in a rising market, but a few days to lose 10%. The elevator experience is always uncomfortable and creates anxiety. Yes, anxiety for us too as we manage client accounts with great care and effort.
“Goes Without Saying” and a “Stitch In Time” – Nvest Nsights Q1 Newsletter
After nearly two years of strong market gains, investors experienced their first meaningful pullback during the first quarter of 2022. While it is typical for markets to experience pullbacks and a higher level of volatility after the initial 12-18 months of a new bull market, it is never welcomed or comfortable. That is probably because the uncertainties that usually accompany them are always unique. Present uncertainties include a still fractured global supply chain, a Federal Reserve that finds itself needing to raise interest rates and tighten monetary policy in pursuit of arresting inflation that is running at the hottest pace in 40 years; and of course Russia/Ukraine which muddies both challenges further.
This quarter our Nvest Nsights newsletter shares what we’re watching and perspective to the topics/questions we’re most frequently hearing from clients. Perhaps it “Goes Without Saying” that the backdrop highlighted above implies 2022 will likely remain a challenging year; but there are also some important messages to be heeded from history. There is also the saying that “A stitch in time saves nine”; while ‘main street’ consumers may not welcome rising interest rates and the impact on the cost of borrowing (or the markets in the short term) it is nonetheless appropriate for the longer-term health of the economy. The markets are adjusting to a changing investment landscape. We close the update with our personal finance theme article with a change coming to employer 401k statements this year. Will the new “Lifetime Income Estimates“ being provided help you feel more secure?
A printer-friendly version of the full quarterly newsletter, including benchmarking and fund performance data, can be obtained here: Q1 Nvest Nsights
As always, please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or would like to coordinate a time to visit.