The Market Volatility Tipping Point, When Volatility Becomes Your Issue Too

Many economists and market analysts have predicted that we will continue to see heightened market volatility for the near future. As a financial advisor, I’m asked about volatility often. People first want to know how they should react. I tell them that these periods of volatility underscore why you need to have a financial plan set well before a market decline. You want to be selective in your reactions, and having a well-thought plan in place helps you maintain an even-keeled approach. This response usually draws the follow-up question, “Does this market volatility even impact me?”

I think this is a frequent question because most people don’t completely understand what market volatility is, let alone its level of impact. Stock market volatility is wide swings in stock prices often brought about by external market events such as the U.K. voting to leave the European Union or the Greek government nearly defaulting on its debt. Events like these scare investors, who then act emotionally, which can negatively impact their portfolio.

Volatility itself, the up and down movement of the markets, will not have a direct impact on the typical investor who has a long-term goal such as retirement. However, volatility becomes your issue the closer you are to retirement today. This is the market volatility tipping point.

Volatility & Retirement

If you are an investor with stock market exposure through your 401(k) plan or other defined contribution plan, your account value will be affected by stock market volatility. With a long-term perspective, you can look beyond the short-term market movement. However, if you are planning to withdraw retirement funds now or in the near future, you will be more impacted, and that is why proper planning is imperative.

Long before your estimated retirement date, it is important that you develop an asset allocation that can help withstand the inevitable stock market declines and accounts for your time horizon, which is the amount of time until you will start to need to withdraw your money. Asset allocation won’t guarantee a gain and it will not ensure against a loss, but it may help reduce volatility in your portfolio. 

Keep Calm & Carry On

A proper asset allocation will help you deal with the emotions that surface when you see your account value decline. Managing emotions is one of the most important skills an individual investor needs to master. During the severe stock market declines of 2008, I saw how people wanted to sell when things felt badly. For those who did sell during the decline, the challenge was trusting when to get back in the market and not missing the sharp reversal that started in March of 2009. If those who sold when things felt badly continued to think the economic recovery wasn’t real and that stocks were a bad investment, they may have missed out on one of the biggest stock market rallies in history. As Warren Buffett says, “it’s harder to be right twice.”

Keeping calm and looking beyond the daily headlines can be a smart strategy.

Mark Avallone, MBA, CFP®, CRPS®. www.PotomacWealth.com

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This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding any funds or stocks in particular, nor should it be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell a security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee against loss. They are methods used to manage risk.
* Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
*The economic forecasts set forth in the presentation may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful.
* Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

About Mark Avallone, MBA, CFP®, CRPS®, AIF®

Mark Avallone is the author of Countdown To Financial Freedom, and founder and President of Potomac Wealth Advisors, LLC a financial advisory firm serving clients through holistic financial planning and wealth management. Avallone writes on a variety of financial topics, and his contributions have appeared in the Wall Street Journal as well as in Forbes where he is a regular contributor. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, the Fox Business Network, and local NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates in Washington, DC. His insights have also been published in USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Post, and other leading publications   Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services offered through Potomac Wealth Advisors, LLC or CES Insurance Agency. www.finra.org and www.sipc.com This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the states of AZ, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, MA, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OR, PA, SC, TX, VT, VA. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside these states due to various state regulations and registration requirements regarding investment products and services. Potomac Wealth Advisors, LLC, 15245 Shady Grove Rd., Ste 410, Rockville, MD 20850 301-279-2221

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