By Melanie Hasty-Grant

Rollercoasters, Tilt-A-Whirls, and Merry-Go-Rounds

Whee! While an exciting adrenaline rush at the state fair, this upside-down, twist around, chug to the top, and scream to the bottom routine is not investors’ idea of a good time. When it comes to your money, I bet it makes you sick at your stomach too!

Unfortunately, I believe volatility is not going away. While the markets have chugged their way up from the bottom, we will eventually see them scream downward again. As John F. Kennedy once said, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” Well folks, the sun is shining right now in the markets.

However, you need to be on the lookout for future storms. The best time to prepare your investment strategy and repair your roof is now. So, how exactly do we go about that you may ask? Well, to begin with you need to know what investments you own and why. Once you have assessed that, you need to research if that is where you need to be right now in this current economic environment. Next, you need to develop a sell-side strategy; a plan for when and why you will sell the investment you are in. It is not an effective investment strategy to simply ride the investment rollercoaster up and then down again. Around and around and around is not so great either.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “People only see what they are prepared to see.” I believe that no matter what happens in the markets or economy; opportunities are available if you look deep enough.
So get prepared. Develop a plan. Research opportunities. If you don’t know how or don’t particularly need an additional full time job managing your own investments, hire someone who does.

Find someone you trust who is the best at what they do. Notice I didn’t say your co-worker in the next cubical or your brother-in-law who is a plumber. When you need brain surgery, you don’t shop for the cheapest mediocre doctor you can find. You search for the best! Your money deserves the best, too! So search for one who really knows what they are doing, who will sit down with you a couple of times a year eyeball to eyeball.

Find one that understands your situation who will stand toe to toe with you when you want to make a bad decision. If not you may find yourself at the state fair getting brain surgery while riding a tilt-a-whirl from a mediocre investment advisor.

For more information go to www.waterstonewealth.com or call us at 918-272-1120.

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Melanie Hasty-Grant, Experienced Licensed Professional Counselor and Founding Partner/Wealth Advisor at Waterstone Private Wealth Management.