As I write this, the major market indices are slightly recovering from the biggest one-day stock market drop of the year.  The “trade war” with China is in full swing and stock markets are reacting daily to news reports and politics.  What is the lesson to be learned from this?  First and foremost, ignore the news!  I have had a few clients try to outguess and time the stock market over the years.  What was the result of those emotional decisions?  Missing out of some of the best long-term stock market gains! (see comic below)

 
  
The best advice I give my clients is to design and stick to a long-term financial plan for saving and investing no matter what the news, politics or markets may say.  At Quantum Capital, we have the latest tools available including MoneyGuidePro, a financial planning portal that lets you see how your investment plan is progressing in real time.  Most importantly, it will forecast when you can comfortably retire with funds that will last a lifetime for you and your loved ones.  An infinite variety of scenarios can be modeled that includes comparing different asset allocations (stocks, bonds, annuities, and cash) in terms of achieving your plan.
 
Part of our engagement process with clients is to develop a plan in addition to expertly managing their investments.  As independent fiduciary advisors, we focus on finding the lowest fee and best performing types of assets that will help clients achieve their lifetime financial plan.  Our institutional platform at Charles Schwab enables our firm to find high-performing bond funds that have returned 6%+ over time as well as manage a high-performing stock portfolio with ultra-low costs.  Lowering costs and potentially increasing performance will help you achieve your plan.
 
If your plan is not in place, please make an appointment with me to get started soon.   I will leave you with some great investor advice from the godfather of Vanguard Funds, Jack Bogle:
 
“Stay the course. Regardless of what happens in the markets, stick to your investment program. Changing your strategy at the wrong time can be the single most devastating mistake you can make as an investor. (Just ask investors who moved a significant portion of their portfolio to cash during the depths of the financial crisis, only to miss out on part or even all the subsequent eight-year—and counting—bull market that we have enjoyed ever since.) 'Stay the course' is the most important piece of advice I can give you."