One of the most prolific changes in the financial markets, since I started my career, has to be the onslaught of media outlets reporting on the financial markets and the speed by which information is released. Today we are inundated with financial information on a daily basis from national broadcasts that are solely dedicated to financial news 24/7, posts on social media, down to your local television and radio stations that are providing financial reports and information.
Looking back over the last thirty-plus years there has been a tremendous shift in how much and the medium by which information is shared about financial markets. In the beginning, information was primarily disseminated through a few financial institutions, brokerages houses, and the brokers that worked for them. Investors were reliant on speaking with their broker in order to obtain the most up-to-date information about what was taking place. Brokers were provided with Quotron machines that were available for them to check stock prices and tickers were used to keep on top of news for their clients. It allowed them to share the most current information with their clients on a somewhat real-time basis. The only other place to receive information regarding your portfolio would have been the nightly news or the financial newspapers the following morning.
Fast forward to current times and we have a much different world. Essentially we are bombarded by financial data and information in a 24/7 news cycle and it is broadcast live and disseminated online as it takes place. This information is no longer simply available to brokers or financial professionals, but it is readily available to everyone. The amount of information and the places by which it can be received can become somewhat overwhelming and confusing. Having this information available and the transparency is key to the success of financial markets, this is a positive, but overall it is a distraction to many.
Is this information, or the access to, it helpful or a detriment to our portfolios? People have access to financial information through many channels, including social media, 24/7. The lion’s share of this information is giving you an in the moment view of what is taking place. A trader, someone who is investing for a short term profit, may find this information very useful, actionable, and help to their performance. However, an investor who is positioned for the long term may find this information confusing and troublesome. Long term investors who subscribe to making changes to their portfolios based upon the news at the moment can have long term dramatic effects to their portfolios and reach their goals. The power of staying invested vs. timing the markets can mean the difference between a positive and negative return, as seen in JP Morgan Asset Management’s 2019 Retirement Guide.
Think about it, does it really behoove an investor with a long term time horizon to make major portfolio changes based upon interest rate changes at the moment or if GDP is higher or lower than expected? Making changes for the long term, based upon short term events is really counterproductive to the investment process.
The keys to being a successful investor over time have not changed much, build an asset allocation strategy and take on the amount of risk you are comfortable with, know what your goals and time horizon are, and build a strategy that will work towards this. The newest key is to either turn off the barrage of financial information or listen and filter it with the fact that you are a long term investor and not a short term trader. Long term investors that act as traders are typically not successful in reaching their goals.
Due to the plethora of financial information available, having a financial advisor that is a fiduciary will be a huge help too. They will be able to help you stay on track if you are tempted to deviate from your plan based upon something you heard on television or read on social media. Many advisors are a tremendous help to their clients during volatile times where the news media tends to take advantage. They get investors quite agitated and to a point, they feel like doing something, and this is where a good adviser can earn their stripes and put things in perspective.
The news media, social media, and all financial outlets can be convincing. They are in the business of entertaining and keeping you glued to their programs and they are not concerned about your portfolios. Do not be swayed by what you are reading and hearing and be sure to build a solid plan. Feel free to give us a call, Mitlin Financial, at (844) 4-MITLIN x12 to schedule a time if you are feeling overwhelmed by what you are reading, listening to and watching so we can help put it all in perspective for you. Be sure to share this article with friends, family and business acquaintances who might be experiencing this too. We look forward to helping you, and them, get on the right path and stay there.
This article represents the opinion of Mitlin Financial Inc. It should not be construed as providing investment, legal and/or tax advice.