Keystone Financial Group

Why Should I Work With a Financial Planner?

Why Should I Work With a Financial Planner?

by Brandon T. Guttery, Financial Advisor

August 31, 2021


Ummm…What Just Happened?

The last year has been chaotic to say the least. We saw a spike in unemployment, a sharp decline in the stock market, and still had a presidential election to sort out. Despite its hectic nature, there are many noteworthy events that unfolded last year and are worth examining further.

Throughout the year, there were a number of “firsts” that took place: we saw the fastest onset of a recession in our country’s history, which subsequently became the shortest but most visceral recession we’ve ever seen, and the highest unemployment rate we’ve seen in the last 70 years. If you find yourself in the midst of a storm, does the captain lower the blinders over the bridge? Or does he actively pilot his crew beyond the fray?

This analogy surmises our client engagement over the last year: rather than burying our heads in the sand, we engaged our clients on a proactive basis, accelerated our review meeting schedule, and increased the frequency of our passive means of contact. While the Coronavirus storm caught many by surprise, we engaged with our clients frequently to ensure we successfully navigated the tumultuous economic landscape throughout the year.

Economic Cycle on Warp Speed

For better context, let’s examine a few pieces of data: From around mid-February to March 23rd of 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost approximately 18,000 points. That amounts to 19 trading days over which that sell off occurred – to put that into perspective, the last major recession from 2007-2009, as well as the late 1980s recession, did not materialize as quickly as this one. From there, on pencil and paper, our economy moved through the entirety of the economic cycle in approximately two months, from peak to trough and back to peak. For reference, our last oscillation through the economic cycle lasted more than a decade under the Bush and Obama administrations. Regarding unemployment, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our unemployment rate hit 14.8% in April of last year, where by October of 2009 unemployment had only just reached 10%.

The Economic Impact of Significant Events

It is important that we study why events like these are significant, as they played a major role in our client meetings when discussing investment strategy or changes to their financial plan. Understanding these events, as well as the context of the broader economic environment, enabled us to recognize that the economy was not damaged or broken like years past, but perhaps was instead oversold out of fear or panic. At the time, many were unsure whether Coronavirus was another common cold, or the next bubonic plague, and that uncertainty was put on full display as the market declined. We advised that our clients follow their long-term planning goals, and take advantage of what seemed to be short-term volatility, in order to still accomplish their future strategic objectives.

Using the Guidance of a Financial Planner

Working with a Financial Planner will help you to better visualize what your future objectives are, find the most efficient means to achieve them, and remain focused on them through economic downturns. Think of us as contractors: if you’re hiring me for a job, I’ll need the details about the job first so I can bring the correct tool to task. If you’re driving a nail, a screwdriver won’t be of much use, just as a hammer would be ineffective at sawing a log. Our work is tailored, on an individual basis, to the needs and goals of our clients, because there is no one size fits all solution with anything we do.

Video Content

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings.  These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.  

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors.  Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well.  Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings. These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors. Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well. Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

YouTube Video VVVkd3dBLXV6ZGNYTXZGVmoxNUlwOHp3LkNZTTZNR1dfQzVr
Keystone Financial Group 39

Things Arent Always As They Seem 2025 KFG 2

Keystone Financial Group May 17, 2025 2:46 pm

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings.  These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.  

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors.  Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well.  Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

Things Aren’t Always As They Seem

Since February, the market has absorbed and reacted to many changes to previously made assumptions regarding the prospects for growth, and earnings. These shocks were geo-political, and geo-economic in nature, and involved the sudden repricing of risk over tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and the concern that a growth shock induced recession could be on the horizon.

As of the middle of May however, we can quantify how those fears have seemingly abated, and markets have re-priced for that risk in a positive manner, underscoring once again the need to be stoic in your disposition when it comes to the allocation of an objective driven investment initiative.

Sometimes, things aren’t always as they seem, and navigating through the noise of sensationalism can feel like walking through a fun house of mirrors. Within this video, I’m offering my thoughts on the reasons behind what turned out to be the sharpest and fastest draw down that we’ve experienced in 100 years, and furthermore, why did markets recover from that drawdown so quickly as well. Were the concerns rational, or irrational?

From a tactical perspective, we remain dedicated to the goal of insulating ourselves from the sensationalism and hyperbole of the day, as we dispassionately adjust the exposures within our models, and act upon data driven conviction.

Please find a few minutes to view our monthly commentary, and please let us know if we can be of service.

YouTube Video VVVkd3dBLXV6ZGNYTXZGVmoxNUlwOHp3LmcyMkNlNjVUUWhV

Things Arent Always As They Seem 2025 IFA 1

Keystone Financial Group May 17, 2025 2:38 pm

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