One year after the COVID-market-bottom, were you fully invested?
The end of March 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the stock market bottom and the end of the shortest bear market on record. Since then the U.S. stock markets have quickly reached new highs, with the DJIA briefly crossing 33,000 last week.
During the past year, investors witnessed the mega-cap DJIA, the large-cap S&P 500, the tech-laden NASDAQ and the smaller-cap Russell 2000 rise sharply as expectations of improving fundamentals took hold. But as we now enter the second year, with expectations that the economy might deliver rapid growth (from pandemic-induced depressed levels) that aim to catch up with the rising stock markets, how are you positioned?
Asked more directly: were you fully invested from the stock market bottom or did you try to time the ups and downs of the market over the past year? If you tried to time the market, the likelihood of you doing it well is not very high.
Trying to Time the Market
Bank of America recently put real numbers into quantifying just how much money investors might lose (or not gain) by trying to time the ups and downs of the market.
Examining almost 100 years of data (going back to 1930), Bank of America found that if an investor missed the S&P 500′s 10 best days each decade, the total return would have been 28%. If, however, an investor was fully invested through the ups and downs, the return would have been 17,715%. That’s not a typo.
What Should You Do?
When stock markets plunge, as they did back in March of 2020, it is natural for investors to panic-sell. The opposite is also true: when stock markets reach new highs, it is natural for investors to panic-buy.
Both panic-selling and panic-buying can significantly lower returns for longer-term investors by causing them to miss the best days or invest during the worst days. A better approach might be to simply remain committed to your long-term financial plan. And stay invested. Your financial advisor can help you do both.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual security. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing.
Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in all market environments.
This article was prepared by FMeX.
