There are many reasons to love October—cooler temperatures and cozy nights, fall foliage in many parts of the country, and of course, the Halloween candy. Many of us have fond memories of putting on a costume, knocking on doors, and emphatically exclaiming, “Trick or treat?!?” When it comes to investing, we recommend a “no-trick,” Evidence-Based, long-term approach, which may eventually lead to more “candy.”
September has historically been a poor month for markets. This year was no different. The combination of Fed activity, rising bond yields, an auto strike, the specter of a government shutdown, rising oil prices, lackluster growth overseas (particularly China), and the restart of student loan payments all contributed to a “wall of worry” that markets could not overcome.
All three major indexes had a negative month, with the Nasdaq down -5.77%, the S&P 500 down -4.77%, and Dow down -3.42%. While global equity markets are still up for the year, September punctuated a poor third quarter across the board.
When the “wall of worry” looms, stay disciplined. The long-term rewards of investing await on the other side.
For more details, see the below Q3 Market Commentary.
Articles of Interest
Does Market Timing Work?
Since perfectly timing the market is nearly impossible, the best strategy may be investing any time. New research on the performance of five hypothetical long-term investors reveals the worst strategy is not to invest at all.
How Is Interest Income Taxed?
The interest you earn on everything from money market accounts to treasury bonds may be subject to ordinary income tax. Knowing how interest is taxed can help you understand how much of your cash goes into your wallet and how much is going to Uncle Sam.
Can Your Kid Have a Roth IRA? You Bet. Here’s How to Open One
Of all the ways to teach your kids about money and help set them up for the future, a custodial Roth IRA may just be the best. It’s easier than you might expect, and the rewards can be well worth it.
Are Your Heirs Prepared?
With wealth being transferred between generations, an alarming number of heirs aren’t prepared to receive an inheritance.
Jack O’Lanterns: Why Do We Carve Pumpkins for Halloween?
How did a New World vegetable, albeit one that is by definition a fruit, combine with a custom of carving originating in the British Isles to become an essential part of contemporary Halloween traditions?
Advisory services offered through KCPAG Financial Advisors LLC and insurance services offered through KCPAG Insurance Services LLC, subsidiaries of Kemper Capital Management LLC. Tax services offered through Kemper CPA Group LLP.
Symmetry Partners, LLC, is an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or excluded or exempt from registration requirements. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission.
No one should assume that future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, product, or non- investment related content made reference to directly or indirectly in this newsletter will be profitable. You should not assume any discussion or information contained in this email serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice. Symmetry does not provide tax or legal advice and nothing either stated or implied here should be inferred as providing such advice. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions.
Symmetry Partners, LLC, is not affiliated with any firm mentioned in this material.
S&P 500 Index represents the 500 leading U.S. companies, approximately 80% of the total U.S. market capitalization. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) Is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ) measures all Nasdaq domestic and international based common type stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, and includes over 2,500 companies.
