One of the hardest things for me to put aside when writing blogs and similar posts is the focus on the big picture. The “Why”. Why do we plan? Who is this money ultimately for and when do they need it?
Most of you know we have spent decades warning about the misinformation in the media, long before the cries of “Fake News!” began to be heard. Remember, our message was not a political one, but rather aimed at long term investors and specifically focused on their behavior. The media has never been a source of meaningful investment advice information for the long term, goal-focused investor.
So as I set out to write blog posts more frequently, I know I’ll be tempted to rebut whatever silliness they are spouting out today. Tariffs and trade wars? International trade is at a record pace right now. US Tariffs were already the lowest of the major economic powers and remain so today. Turkish debt crisis? Really? Trump’s tweets?
In a properly diversified portfolio (like our clients have), you are an owner of hundreds of the biggest and most innovative companies in the world along with other investments. One thing I have learned in the decades we have been dispensing goal-focused investment advice is that the media doesn’t deliver useful information. It’s a topic for another day but you should realize that they must dish out the most attention-grabbing headlines so you will pay attention. And the financial press must espouse the most popular beliefs of the day, lest you ignore them. Definitionally, this makes their commentary amongst the most useless. I’ll get to that in my next blog – with examples!
In the meantime, keep the faith and turn off the TV set and go watch a sunset!
-Michael Rogan
