Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.
- Dr. Seuss
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Here are some of our team's favorite moments from the last few months at home. We hope you will share yours in the poll below and send us an email with a photo capturing your favorite moment!
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Derek Eichelberger and his family enjoyed evenings around the campfire.
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Jason Staley was cheered on by his wife, Britt, and daughters, Caroline and Claire, as he mowed the lawn.
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Matt Biggs and his wife, Katie, found out that they will be having their first child, a baby boy, in December 2020.
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Nancy Skeans caught her first fish with her friend and fishing expert, Michelle Donovan.
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Amber Cranmer and her family visited Penn's Cave together.
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Vicky Rogers enjoyed spending time with her grandson, Charlie.
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Shawn Fodge, and his wife, Brandi, welcomed their daughter, Keltie, into the world.
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Alissa Garcia, and her husband, Dan, added a big, furry friend to their family - Rooster.
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Polly Aites and her family enjoyed kayaking on the Clarion River.
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What favorite moment, experienced during the COVID-19, will become a valued memory?
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A New Child or Grandchild
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Market Update: Market Volatility is Back ... and It Is Here to Stay
Jason R. Staley, CFA, CAIA
®
Investment Relationship Manager/Director of Research and Due Diligence
Schneider Downs Wealth Management Advisors, LP
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One could be forgiven if they are feeling a case of whiplash as they look at the current state of equity markets and, in particular, the S&P 500. On the surface, the S&P is down a modest -2.4% (inclusive of dividends reinvested), which would make some sense given that in 2019 the S&P 500 returned +31.5%. To the lay observer, equity markets were taking a breather following a scorching 2019. However, due to the COVID-19 shutdowns across the country, most people were not lay observers. Instead, as a result of unique circumstances caused by the nationwide shutdown, many more people have become keen observers of equity market movements (here is where the whiplash part comes in). Starting at the market peak of February 19
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, the market has experienced significantly elevated levels of volatility, with wild price swings to the downside and the upside. The S&P 500 entered a bear market in record time, falling 30% in 22 trading days
[1]
; correspondingly, the S&P 500 entered into a new bull market (using the standard definition of +20% from its low point) in a record 12 trading days
[2]
because it is 2020, a year in which anything can, and likely will, happen.
One item that I think might not be appreciated fully by the newly minted “keen observers” of the market is that the best days in the market are often clustered around the worst days. In the table below, I have highlighted some of these days, and why it is important to rely on the foundational principles of identifying risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs to get you through volatile days (weeks and months) in the market.
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The table above illustrates 15 trading days, with every day but one occurring in the month of March. Predicting markets as volatile as the above is a fool’s errand, which naturally leads to the question in many investors’ minds: how do we weather this type of storm? Our answer: focus on the basics and ignore the noise (daily volatility) as much as possible. Very few, if any, can exactly predict when a crisis will occur, so it the planning that investors and advisors do before a crisis hits that helps them navigate to calmer waters. Understanding your risk tolerance, the amount of drawdown in your portfolio that you are willing to accept without selling, is of vital importance. Going through the events of March, investors’ risk tolerances were tested and should be updated.
Were you able to tolerate the wild swings of March without altering your investment outlook? Re-evaluating your risk tolerance goes hand in hand with your time horizon and liquidity needs. If your time horizon is greater than ten years, the short-term volatility we experienced in March, while unpleasant, shouldn’t materially affect your investment outlook. It especially shouldn’t alter your outlook if you have had an open dialogue with your advisor about your immediate liquidity needs; these immediate, or short-term, liquidity needs should be kept in cash or cash equivalents. If an investor’s cash reserves accurately reflect their needs, additional funds would not need to be raised during volatile time periods such as March (where raising money could “lock in” permanent losses).
Ultimately, we cannot control for volatile time periods like we experienced in March. The best way to successfully traverse the explosive bouts of market volatility is with a coherent and holistic investment and financial planning strategy. Referring to that plan, holding onto it even on days where the market drops 12%, as it did on March 16
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, is what gives investors the most likely chance of achieving their goals. Otherwise, rash and sometimes unwise decisions can be made, as documented in a recent Wall Street Journal article where 31% of investors between the ages of 65-68 sold all of their stocks between February and May.
[6]
Now that we have navigated back to calmer waters, the prudent course of action is to re-assess (with your advisor) whether your risk tolerance, time horizon, or liquidity needs have changed… Because market volatility is back, and it is here to stay in a post COVID-19 world.
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Have You Missed Any of Our Recent Communications?
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FINANCIAL BOOT CAMP SERIES
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MANAGING YOUR EMOTIONS
DURING VOLATILE TIMES
SDWMA's Kyle Zeller shares important information on how to manage the emotional ups and downs of capital markets.
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WEALTH MANAGEMENT CONCERNS WHEN SELLING YOUR BUSINESS
SDWMA's Derek Eichelberger provides valuable wealth management insight for those selling, or thinking about selling, their business.
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Schneider Downs & Co. has developed a pool of resources regarding legislative changes, market conditions, and business considerations surrounding COVID-19.
Follow the link below to articles that may be of interest to you.
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Tax Day is almost here! Don't forget to file your tax return by Wednesday, July 15th.
Estimated payments for Q2 2020 are also due that day.
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From Our Kitchen to Yours
Courtesy of Karen Werley
SDWMA's Client Service Manager
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White Peach Sangria
1 bottle of Pinot Grigio
¾ cup peach-flavored vodka
6 tbsp. frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed)
¼ cup white sugar
1 pound peaches, peeled and sliced
¾ cup seedless red grapes, halved
In a large pitcher, combine wine, vodka, lemonade concentrate, and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add fruit.
Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours, but overnight is better to infuse the fruit and blend the flavors.
Serve over ice, using a slotted spoon to include fruit with each serving.
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Mini Tomato Snackums
6 ounces softened cream cheese
½ cup mayonnaise
3 tbsp. basil leaves, chopped
1 baguette
6 plum tomatoes, sliced thin
Salt and pepper
Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, and basil. Refrigerate a couple of hours to develop the flavors.
Slice baguette. Spread with a bit of the cream cheese mixture. Top with tomato slice and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
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Schneider Downs Wealth Management Advisors, LP (SDWMA) is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SDWMA provides fee-based investment management services and financial planning services, along with fee-based retirement advisory and consulting services. Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice. Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training.
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Schneider Downs Wealth Management Advisors, LP
1 PPG Place, Suite 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.697.5200
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