Don’t get caught up in the election year frenzy

Feeling a bit jittery about the upcoming elections? You’re not alone! From heart-pounding excitement to nail-biting apprehension, it can feel like Orson Welles is back in the studio.

But fear not; let’s explore how we can navigate these waters with clarity and confidence.

Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” You could hop into the DeLorean and go back to any election - Nixon, Reagan Carter, and get the same thing.

The anxiety of the moment, heightened by the 24-hour news cycle, may find a way of clouding people’s judgment.

A few years ago, I took on a new client after he hit the panic button and sold everything when a certain candidate got elected. Once you do that, it’s hard to find the right time to get back in, and you’ve lost around along the way. So don’t panic!

I’ve talked about it many times in these videos and in person with you, the worst thing you can do in investing is to make decisions based on emotions or political beliefs.

That’s why it’s important to focus on the facts and have some simple strategies for dealing with election stress and market turbulence.

To do that, you can start as simple as limiting your media intake and time on social media around elections.

Keep your eyes on the big picture. Remember Mark Twain. Out of 24 elections since the inception of the S&P 500 Index, 83% of the years following these elections saw positive returns. So don’t let the news spin get you. Focus on what you can control and stay focused on your long-term goals. 

That’s how we can conceive, believe, and achieve the life we want.