When times are good, it’s really tough to look at option of downside protection. We’ve just come off of what was one of the longest bull runs in market history dating back to 2009, up until the early part of 2020.
That mindset changes pretty quickly; about as quick as the market shift we saw at start of March when the media started declaring a state of emergency for our well-being.
Now is the time we’ve had many calls about protection towards long term funds, in particular, retirement funding. This holds especially true for those nearing that retirement phase of their life and trying to line up their finances in an orderly fashion.
One question I like to ask clients is this: If you knew that the market was going to change the way that it did, would you have continued to do what you were doing prior to this happening?
Without a doubt, that answer of course, was no way! Now, much like the coronavirus that we have been hearing all too much about in the news – if you knew you were going to get the virus and it was going to make a huge impact on your health, potentially but not guaranteeing that you would die – would you change your habits now? Maybe be more aware of your surroundings? Or just simply stay home completely away from everything and start up the quarantine process if you haven’t been already.
That is the exact point of this blog. If you KNEW everything that was coming, you could adequately prepare for what you will be encountering day to day. Now that we are at the understanding that not everything can be planned accordingly, at least not to our liking of how we WANT things to go for ourselves, our families, and our businesses; why don’t we take the proper steps to ensure that at least a portion of our long-term funds we’ve worked so hard for will be there when we need them come retirement time?
In the last two months, we have witnessed our retirement plans (401k, 403b, SIMPLE IRA, Roth IRA, etc.) drop dramatically, if we were not properly allocated. Being unprepared for the unpredictable is unbearable at a time when we need to alleviate as much stress as possible.
Work hours are getting cut. Employees are getting laid off. Retirement funds have been cut by 30-50% in a short period of time that may take a while to build back up. Medical appointments that we maybe need but are not crucial now can become a hindrance to our health later if not acted on in a timely manner. Our mental health may take a toll if it’s not already with having to be cooped up inside for too long, unsure of what’s going to happen next.
There are a lot of variables to every aspect of our lives. Why add stress to the financial side as well? We are open and we are here to guide you every step of the way, even when these roadblocks force us to take a detour. Here at Big Horn, we look at a time like this as an opportunity. A chance for you to take the bull by the horns if you will, and really dig deep into what you want come retirement time. Even during trying times, there are ways for your funds to continue growth while the markets stay in the red and drop to an unfavorable percentage that makes your cringe. Five to ten minutes of your time could prove to be a major adjustment to where you are currently and where you want to be later.
Always feel free to give us a call. We will give you an honest opinion based on where you’re at now and if any adjustments could be of benefit to you.
Just remember: When you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.
Your dedicated, local, independent firm known as Big Horn is here for you. Give us a call to chat or to set up an appointment. 218-444-8894.
We hope you are staying safe & healthy.
The team at Big Horn looks forward to seeing you soon.