We spent a little time reviewing old editions of The Lowry Letter® and thought this was interesting, from the year-end 2008 letter:

“The current market condition has been truly unique in that almost no strategy was left untouched to the negative in some way.

Investors who lack the will to persevere and stick to a long-term investment strategy will likely come out holding the shorter end of the straw as others will step in and purchase what they refused to hold on to; such is the function of a marketplace.

Occasionally we will hear someone say, “But I need to get out so I will have something for the future.” Our response is that if you want something for the future, you better get invested and stay invested for the long haul, otherwise the world and all its prosperity will pass you by.”

You may recall that we were still almost 3 months from hitting the market bottom in March 2009. It is helpful to remember that whatever present uncertainty we are facing, we have been through worse.

We remain optimistic that we will finish the year on positive footing, especially after the election question is resolved.

• Happy 49^th Anniversary to Joe, Sr. & Gladys! They are pictured below with granddaughter Danielle on her recent trip with them.

• An effective and inexpensive malaria vaccine has been sought for many years, with the disease continuing to be a major killer. The problem is especially acute in Africa, so cost-effective solutions like nets have been the default approach. A new vaccine is as inexpensive as netting, and could save hundreds of thousands of lives.

• This is interesting research about attitudes toward migrants, looking specifically at the recent movement of Venezuelans throughout Latin America. Countries that saw large numbers of Venezuelan migrants saw higher negative sentiment, but NOT in areas where high numbers of migrants settled. The interesting conclusion is that those with actual interaction with migrants did not view them as negatively as those with less personal experience.

• Strava is a popular app for logging physical activity, especially running and cycling. We just learned that in some places you can pay someone to log impressive stats in Strava for you. This seems pretty ridiculous, unless status is your primary reason for using the app. Even then, pretty sad.

Bonds are subject to availability and market conditions; some have call features that may affect income. Bond prices and yields are inversely related: when the price goes up, the yield goes down, and vice versa. Market risk is a consideration if sold or redeemed prior to maturity.

An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other governmental agency; although the fund seeks to preserve the value of the investment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money. Nonbank deposit investments are not FDIC- or NCUA-insured, are not guaranteed by the bank/financial institution, and are subject to risk, including loss of principal invested.

Certificates of deposits (CDs) typically offer a fixed rate of return if held to maturity, are generally insured by the FDIC or another government agency, and may impose a penalty for early withdrawal.

Lowry Financial Advisors is the only advisory firm that helps its clients reach their goals through The Achieving Simplicity® Experience™, providing clarity and confidence in their personal and financial lives.