COMMENTARY

One unique aspect of the current economic cycle is the post-pandemic mindset toward spending. A behavioral observation, and one that gets far less press than the headlines of political upheaval, bank runs or the price of gasoline is the phenomenon called “retail therapy.” After experiencing loss of loved ones or feeling isolated and alone or having a near-death experience, there is a propensity to spend or enjoy or splurge a bit. You may have also heard it called “revenge vacationing” or “grief shopping.” In the time since Covid-19pandemic, spending on trips and luxury items and other goods has been a coping mechanism, a way to make up for lost time (in lock downs) and a way to take back some control.

It has been 16 months since the stock market peaked and 13 months since the first rate hike by the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500's most recent low came in October 2022, down approximately 27% from the peak. The Fed continues to raise rates in their fight against inflation, and stocks have shrugged off several events, including a bank run, and have staged a partial rally over the last six months. While no one can know with certainty whether the October low will prove to be the bottom of this market cycle, there are a few things that we can know with a high level of conviction.

The US stock market index, also known as the S&P 500, has dropped by 25% since its highs in November 2021. US bonds have also posted large losses this year, marking the worst year on record for some bond indexes. As investors well know, these declines have resulted in some rather large reductions in portfolio values. Price declines are hard on investor psychology. Even though we know that bear markets are a normal part of long term investing, they are not fun. It can be tempting to run away or sell. But if we use rational thinking and strategic planning, we can actually take advantage of them and improve returns in future years. To do this, we need both perspective and time-tested approaches.

We are in the midst of a difficult and complex cycle. Inflation is rising and asset values are falling. We can’t know how long it will last. But it’s important to realize that difficult and complex cycles in the past have ended with the cooling of inflation and price recovery for assets. So while today’s climate does warrant awareness and caution, we can also look for opportunity on the horizon.

Almost halfway through 2022, we’ve seen significant losses in both stocks and bonds. As of May 13th, global stocks were down 16% and global bonds were down 12%. Higher interest rates, the war in Ukraine, and persistent inflation have left very few asset classes safe from the sell-off, and while bonds typically provide stability when equities are down, a benchmark 60/40 stock-bond portfolio is down over 14% year-to-date.