In investing, it’s common to hear warnings of bubbles and impending bear markets. Some businesses are incentivized to grab your attention by capitalizing on known investor fears and loss-aversion tendencies. Together, these can lead to short-term actions that go against long-term objectives.

The history of market behavior during election months makes a strong case for sticking with a plan to achieve long-term goals.

Here’s a hint: I did not call it the “401k Investment Committee.” Rename it and repurpose it as the “401k Oversight Committee.”

The market is a long term gratification situation.

Green up arrows everywhere as the market inevitably follows a less than optimal 2022 with an optimal 2023. The market cheered the positive chances that the Fed might engineer a “soft landing” meaning no recession while fighting inflation with interest rate hikes.

“The single best economic and financial development in the last 20 years.” says Vanguard.