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Page 38 The <strong>OSCAR</strong> - OUR 38 th YEAR DEC 2011<br />
By Rick Sutherland, CLU,<br />
CFP, FDS, R.F.P<br />
Volatility is defined as sudden<br />
and sharp movements in both<br />
directions. We are specifically<br />
speaking about the volatility of global<br />
investment markets. As 2011 draws to<br />
a close it may prove to be one of the<br />
more volatile years in history.<br />
Market trends these days don’t<br />
seem to last more than a day or two.<br />
Heck on May 6, 2010 we saw a “flash<br />
crash” that lasted just minutes. At<br />
roughly 2:30 pm the Dow Jones Index<br />
lost 9% of its value, only to recover<br />
those losses in a matter of minutes.<br />
Clearly investors are seeking<br />
answers and direction on how to deal<br />
with all this volatility. The reality is<br />
that there just isn’t an easy answer. It<br />
comes down to you, your investment<br />
personality, your time horizon and<br />
your ability to not be cajoled into<br />
making a mistake.<br />
Yet investors, both the experienced<br />
as well as the inexperienced are<br />
showing signs of fatigue. Whether<br />
it’s the Greek debt crisis or the fear<br />
of an imminent recession, the markets<br />
cannot seem to settle down. The<br />
period from May to October 2011 was<br />
not pleasant. The trend was one day<br />
up and two days down. This was then<br />
followed by three days up and two<br />
days down. The result for some was<br />
gut wrenching and emotional.<br />
Some have turned to market<br />
timing. Based on whatever current<br />
event is published in the daily press<br />
is how investment decisions are<br />
being made. This boils down to pure<br />
speculation. The unwavering truth is<br />
that the market cannot be consistently<br />
timed correctly. It does not matter<br />
who you are or how much education<br />
or investment experience you have;<br />
market timing only works some of the<br />
time.<br />
Others have adopted a “go to cash<br />
and wait for better days” strategy.<br />
This is also a form of market timing<br />
and speculation. Sell today, maybe at<br />
a loss, park money in cash at almost<br />
To book an <strong>OSCAR</strong> ad<br />
call Gayle 730-1058<br />
oscarads@oldottawasouth.ca<br />
Is Volatility Making You Weary?<br />
zero percent return and then wait for<br />
the market to go up (to some this is<br />
settling down) then reinvest back into<br />
the market. The trouble is picking the<br />
best point in time to return to the party.<br />
If you are truly a long-term<br />
investor you may want to study<br />
what others, who have decades of<br />
experience and knowledge, are doing<br />
about the current market volatility.<br />
They know and understand the<br />
companies that make up the market.<br />
Warren Buffett, the greatest investor<br />
of all time announced in September<br />
that his company, Berkshire<br />
Hathaway Inc., would begin buying<br />
back stock. The price was too cheap.<br />
Buffett was not alone. Other major<br />
companies that announced buyback<br />
plans included Wal-Mart, Exxon<br />
Mobile and JPMorgan Chase to name<br />
just a few. Look beyond the headlines,<br />
ignore the volatility (no correction –<br />
take advantage of the volatility) and<br />
think and invest like the pros.<br />
Do not succumb to the negative<br />
press. Review your goals and as long<br />
By Anna Sundin<br />
as your objectives have not changed<br />
then stay the course. Ask yourself<br />
how you would invest if today was<br />
the first day of your deposit. If your<br />
allocation would look the same then<br />
don’t do anything.<br />
Season’s Greetings and we look<br />
forward to talking to you in 2012.<br />
The foregoing is for general<br />
information purposes and is the<br />
opinion of the writer. This information<br />
is not intended to provide personal<br />
advice including, without limitation,<br />
investment, financial, legal,<br />
accounting or tax advice. Please call<br />
or write to Rick Sutherland CLU,<br />
CFP, FDS, R.F.P., to discuss your<br />
particular circumstances or suggest<br />
a topic for future articles at 613-<br />
798-2421 or E-mail rick@investedinterest.ca.<br />
Mutual Funds provided<br />
through FundEX Investments Inc.<br />
What I Offer: A Cup Of Coffee<br />
And A Second Opinion<br />
Anyone with mutual funds or other investments in the stock market<br />
who is relying on them to provide a source of income during their<br />
retirement years is probably worried right now whether their<br />
investment plan will achieve their goal of living with maximum dignity<br />
and independence for the rest of their life or whether it is now more likely<br />
that he or she will outlive their source of retirement income.<br />
When the markets turn as volatile and confusing as they have over the<br />
past couple of years, even the most patient investors may come to question<br />
the wisdom of the investment plan they’ve been following.<br />
At Sunlife Financial, we’ve seen a lot of difficult markets come and go.<br />
And I certainly empathize with people who find the current environment<br />
troublesome and disturbing. I would like to help, if I can, and to that end,<br />
here’s what I offer:<br />
A cup of coffee, and a second opinion<br />
You are welcome to come in and sit with the experts at SunLife for<br />
a while. I’ll ask you to briefly outline your financial goals – what your<br />
investment portfolio is intended to do for you. Then I’ll review the portfolio<br />
for and with you.<br />
If I think your investments continue to be well suited to your long-term<br />
goals – despite all the market turmoil- I’ll gladly tell you so, and send you<br />
on your way.<br />
If, on the other hand, I think some of your investments no longer fit<br />
with your goals, I’ll explain why, in plain English. And, if you like, I’ll<br />
recommend some alternatives.<br />
Either way, the coffee is on me.<br />
When you call to make your appointment, mention that you are taking<br />
me up on the offer I made in the <strong>OSCAR</strong>. I look forward to meeting with<br />
you.