Greetings,
As Ronald Regan would have said, “Here we go again…” …uncertainty, nervousness, political argument, geopolitical tensions, trade wars, tariffs, and so on.
Most of you have been with us for quite a few years now, some well over 30 years! We’ve been through the dot.com crash, a real estate and financial crisis, a worldwide pandemic, recessions, bull markets and bear markets and we have prospered by not reacting to day-to-day news. By not making rash decisions based on short term fears or volatility. By making a plan and sticking with it. This time is no different. The yo-yo like behavior of the market recently is not fun, but we will get through it and be fine on the other side.
We know the recent volatility is forefront in your minds. From the back-and-forth on tariffs and trade policy to lingering inflation concerns, interest rate debates, and global unrest, it’s been a lot for markets—and investors—to digest. None of these issues are entirely new, but the combination of them all at once can understandably feel overwhelming.
When you put it all together, you get the kind of day-to-day swings we’ve been seeing. But again, none of this is new. Markets have always moved in cycles and responded to uncertainty. What matters is the long-term trend, and that’s where sticking to your plan continues to pay off.
History has consistently rewarded those who stay disciplined and invested through uncertain times. Whether it was the tech bubble, the 2008 financial crisis, or the COVID crash, the markets eventually recovered—and those who stayed the course were the ones who benefited most.
In the past few weeks many of you have called and spoken with us. In addition, we have reached out to many of you, and we expect to be speaking with many more in the next several weeks. For most of you, the message remains the same: stick with the plan! Uncertainty and volatility aren’t fun, but we’ve had different versions of uncertainty and volatility many times. Unfortunately, it’s part of the deal but in the long term it doesn’t matter. Patience and fortitude are what pay off. If you are struggling with this, let’s talk. That’s exactly what we’re here for—sometimes, our most important role is simply to provide a steady hand and a listening ear when things feel uncertain.
We want to leave you with some positive thoughts and touch on tradition. Of course, this is Masters Week and one of the best golf traditions is happening. Even though the markets are bouncing around, politicians are flapping their gums on the tv and all of that, we still have our traditions to fall back on. Wherever you are, spring is either here or coming soon (even here in NH ??) and then we have summer vacations, 4th of July, Labor Day celebrations to look forward to. This is a great country; it will change here and there but it will continue with all of the traditions we lean on as we live our lives.
It’s easy to get caught up in the headlines, but just like we’ve done in the past, staying focused, disciplined, and grounded in your financial plan is what leads to success. If you're feeling uneasy or have questions, we're always just a phone call away.
Don’t lose sight of the good things we have and the strengths we have here in the good ‘ol USA!
Cheers,
Chris, Const, Matt, Anka, and Michelle
Chris Reaney, Founding Partner, Managing Director, Wealth Manager
Constantine Harris, Partner, Managing Director, Wealth Manager
Matthew Babcock, Partner, Vice President, Portfolio Management Analyst
Anka Vidacic, Founding Partner, Vice President, Sr. Wealth Management Associate
Michelle Perez, Partner, Vice President, Client Administrative Manager
Highwater Wealth Group
Of Steward Partners
145 Maplewood Ave, Ste 100, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Office: 603.427.8855 | Fax: 603.373.8210
Team Website: HighwaterGroup.stewardpartners.com
