We hope this months e-newsletter finds you taking a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of life to enjoy family and friends this Thanksgiving. In our e-newsletter this month we are focusing on the current market situation, specifically answering the question, "What you should do". It is very important to review your Master Financial Plan in uncertain times such as these before making rash financial moves. As before, we also included in this issue informative articles on a variety of financial and investment topics. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, simply fill out the subscribe box below, indicating you wish to be deleted from our mailing list. You can also use the subscribe box to add friends or relatives to our mailing list. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Hope you enjoy the newsletter.

You’ve heard the expression, “perception equals reality” before, I am sure. This statement is probably belaboring the obvious fact that whatever or however we perceive a situation, it becomes our individual or collective reality. The domestic and global stock market “scoreboard” is always the collective perception of the human beings who interact and react moment to moment and day to day within its realm. What is true today for a wildly fluctuating stock price or for an index (S&P, Dow Jones Industrials-for example) is typically not the case for the year-end result.

Yes, it is dysfunctional, made more so by the raw instincts and emotions that drive decisions to buy or sell during the course of any single day.

With all of the chaos and confusion in the financial markets, we wanted to help provide you with some clarity and insight as to what is occurring and our outlook for the future.

Whatever your objectives and whatever course you have selected to help you achieve those objectives, there will always be some other course or investment that looks like a better alternative. Sometimes a change will be warranted, but only when it is consistent with your existing strategy. Unfortunately, investors often switch from one type of investment to another for reasons not related to their investment objectives. For instance, during periods of market fluctuation, an investor may be tempted to switch from stocks to cash. Or, during periods of low interest rates, an investor may switch from bonds to stocks. Often, these types of switches are inconsistent with their investment strategy, making it less likely that they will achieve their investment objectives.

Remember that your investment strategy was designed after giving careful thought to your objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon for investing. The strategy was meant to guide your investment decisions during all types of market environments, so changes should not be necessary due to market fluctuations. Stay focused on your investment objectives and stay the course. Feel free to call or e-mail me if you’d like to review your investment portfolio.