The December Rout

BLOOMBERG, DECEMBER 26, 2018, 10:23 AM

INVESTORS SCRAMBLE TO PULL CASH OUT OF MUTUAL FUNDS

Investors withdrew $56.2 billion from mutual funds during the week that ended Dec. 19, according to data from the Investment Company Institute. The mutual fund market hasn’t experienced a one-week outflow so large since October 2008.

REMEMBER THESE HEADLINES DURING THE “DECEMBER ROUT?”

We’re always preaching patience and long-term investing but we’re also well aware that scary headlines such as the ones above make it difficult to remain in the market when “experts” are warning that the world is coming to an end. So, I decided to track the daily headlines post-“Rout” to see how helpful the daily news might be for investors. I believe you’ll find the almost daily flip-flopping enlightening and it will persuade you to ignore the financial pornography and remain a patient long-term investor. Be sure to note the flip-flop between the red and green boxes, particularly the heavy ones.

Obviously I didn’t know where the market was going when I started this, but I haven’t been surprised that the media coverage followed the classic pattern below.

The moral is, next time you think you should make your investments decisions based on financial pornography and “breaking news,” reread the history below since the beginning of the “December Rout” and think twice before you bail out.

Investment success is based on time IN the market, NOT market timing!

FINALLY, AFTER READING THIS I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY A BIT OF CREDIBLE OPTIMISM FROM WARREN BUFFETT

Buffett: Stocks are ‘virtually certain’ to rise in years ahead

‘Miraculous’ U.S. economy remains the engine, says Berkshire chief. He’s not worried.

Warren Buffett assured Berkshire Hathaway investors that they’re likely to continue seeing “substantial” investment gains, aided by what he describes as the long-running U.S. economic miracle.

“Our expectation is that investment gains will continue to be substantial—though totally random as to timing—and that these will supply significant funds for business purchases,” Buffett said in his annual letter to Berkshire

Naysayers may make money by pushing “gloomy” forecasts, he said, but “heaven help them if they act on the nonsense they peddle.”

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/buffett-stocks-are-virtually-certain-to-rise-in-years-ahead-2017-02-25

If you made it this far, I hope you found it useful and this history lesson provides some comfort as we struggle (once again) through volatile markets. Just remember, patience pays and we’re here for you if you’d like to chat further.

Sincerely,

Harold Evensky
Chairman
Evensky & Katz / Foldes Financial Wealth Management