Explore Our
“Off The Wall” Blog
Unique, straight-forward, unfiltered opinion on topics of concern for individuals with newfound wealth.
Framing Your Perspective of 2021
It’s November, and in a cruel twist of fate, 2020 forced an additional hour on us all this weekend as we roll into the final two months of the year. I think we are all hoping 2021 is a different situation, but right now, there will be nothing else more dominating in the news than tomorrow’s Presidential election.
But allow me to bypass that topic and give some thoughts on what investors should be thinking about. To start, answer these straightforward questions:
- Do you suppose COVID will recede by next spring?
- Do you suppose vaccines will become available in the first half of 2021?
- Do you suppose better medical treatments and therapeutics will continue reducing hospital stays and death rates?
- Do you suppose better testing will allow for faster and safer openings of businesses, schools, and services?
- Do you suppose there will be trillions of new dollars in additional stimulus in 2021, regardless of the election outcome?
- Do you suppose the Fed will keep interest rates near zero?
- Do you suppose economies, GLOBALLY, will still be improving by next spring?
Framing your perspective based on your answers is important.
I answer “Yes” to all of the above.
Look, here’s the thing…if you go searching for bad news, you will find it.
The best thing to do right now is to stop listening to idiots on TV who really have no clue about what’s in front of us. They are using the rearview mirror to predict what will be seen through the front windshield.
Remember that the current economic problems are a function of the COVID pandemic and are not the result of financial stress or banking issues.
Monetary institutions/governments have injected a TON of liquidity and fiscal stimulus to help get everyone through this. There are literally trillions in excess liquidity in the financial system GLOBALLY, and it’s probably far more than what is needed economically. The economy was roaring before COVID.
But look, I get it, there are current and near-term events in front of everyone’s face right now. But the successful investor must focus on the next 12 to 18 months at a minimum and have their portfolios positioned appropriately.
And on that note, remember – cash is your friend. It’s liquid, it’s a cheap, short-term hedge, and it’s a way to manage anxiety. Seriously, this time next year, all this election drama will be behind us and maybe even the COVID issue too.
Because I answered “Yes” to the questions above, I think the big story for 2021 will be record earnings, operating margins, and return on invested capital.
Being an investor during periods of uncertainty is hard, but face it, it’s ALWAYS an uncertain time. You need to have a good strategy and understand that yours is different from everyone else’s. You need to monitor your wealth plan and portfolio to ensure it is still valid and incorporate proper assumptions.
No matter who wins tomorrow’s election, patience and discipline will always reign king when it comes to investing. At the same time, a healthy perspective of where we are going is also essential in evaluating risk, return and liquidity over your own personal time horizon.
Keep looking forward,
What’s Next?
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Monument Capital Management, LLC [“Monument”]), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Monument.
Please remember that if you are a Monument client, it remains your responsibility to advise Monument, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. Monument is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of Monument’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request.
Please Note: Monument does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Monument’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.
Please Also Note: IF you are a Monument client, please advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.
David B. Armstrong, CFA
President & Co-Founder
Dave got into the industry when he discovered his passion for finance in his mid-20’s. He’s a combat veteran and served as an officer in the United States Marines Corps on both active duty and in the reserves, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. While serving on active duty, Dave was unable to spend money on deployments, so he became a self-taught investor. Along with a few bucks cash as a bouncer, his investing performance grew to be good....
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
Please remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Monument Capital Management, LLC [“Monument”]), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Monument. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. No amount of prior experience or success should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if Monument is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Monument is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.
A copy of the Monument’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request or at www.monumentwealthmanagement.com/disclosures. Please Note: Monument does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Monument’s website or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.
Historical performance results for investment indices, benchmarks, and/or categories have been provided for general informational/comparison purposes only, and generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges, the deduction of an investment management fee, nor the impact of taxes, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results. It should not be assumed that your Monument account holdings correspond directly to any comparative indices or categories. Please Also Note: (1) performance results do not reflect the impact of taxes; (2) comparative benchmarks/indices may be more or less volatile than your Monument accounts; and, (3) a description of each comparative benchmark/index is available upon request.
Please Remember: If you are a Monument client, please contact Monument, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Unless, and until, you notify us, in writing, to the contrary, we shall continue to provide services as we do currently. Please Also Remember to advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.