Brandon Cabaniss, CFP®
brandon@wwmgreenville.com
How do you prepare for change?
Early August is always an emotional time for me. I don’t know if it is the
suffocating heat and fluctuating barometric pressure, or the shortening days
signaling the end to the lazier ways of summer, but I tend to feel a little down and fatigued this time of year.
My daughters feel it too. Even the slightest mention of school uniform supplies or book order reverses the smiles on their faces…”Mom, why did you have to bring that up, I was having a good day”.
What I realize is that the unstructured summer is fading. We prepare to say
goodbye to the loose schedules, the “summer shuffle” where every day is
different and ice cream indulgences and pool parties are spontaneous and
unmeasured.
In August, we prepare to shift into a new season. To prepare myself, I try to
begin a better bedtime routine, reduce sugar intake, meditate more often and
work on home projects like cleaning out closets.
How do you prepare for and accept change?
Most of us fight it. Even though inevitably our days always turn to nights, the
moon phases in and out and our bodies shift from satiated to hungry, tired to
energetic, it seems we are often caught off guard by change and try to fight it
incessantly.
The economy and financial markets change. We know this, yet we are often caught off guard by the sudden shifts. We can react emotionally when the market
turns lower and are often tempted to make big changes but instead, we should
consider taking a moment to ask ourselves what is really driving our
decision making. This can help prevent mistakes such as selling low and
buying high..
In this Fidelity viewpoints article, the author highlights the five points in
cycle and how our emotions follow. “Practicing mindfulness can help you
develop discipline when it comes to financial decision-making but also
help manage your emotions in the face of market ups and downs.”
https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/investing-ideas/the-market-cycle-and-investors
This sentiment cycle graph shows typical investor emotions as markets
fluctuate.
Having a plan that you stick to through the market cycles or “seasons” will help
guide you. I have rarely ever changed my allocations or investments during a
down cycle unless I see a future need for liquidity. Do I have a large goal to fund
in the coming year? Well, then I should raise some cash. But if my time horizon is
long term, then I sit tight and continue to save and invest. I’ve watched
disciplined and focused individuals build wealth over time with this mindset. A
financial advisor can guide you through the difficult storms as well as celebrate
the sunshine!
Disclosure: This material is provided as a courtesy and for educational purposes only. Please consult your investment professional, legal or tax advisor for specific information pertaining to your situation. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Fidelity Investments (“Fidelity”) is an independent company unaffiliated with Williams Wealth Management (“WWM”). Fidelity is a service provider to WWM. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between WWM and Fidelity, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information herein. Fidelity Institutional® provides clearing, custody, or other brokerage services through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC. 1042496.1.0
Brandon R. Cabaniss, CFP ®
Private Wealth Manager
