
#2020 news headlines drivers#
1 Behavioral coaching, as practiced using the Vanguard Advisor's Alpha® framework, recognizes the significance of clients' emotional drivers on their investing attitudes. Vanguard research has shown that advisors can add significant value to clients beyond the realm of portfolio management. Just a few trading days can be responsible for the largest gains during a recovery being out of the market can mean missing out on the most profitable periods.A recovery typically involves many episodes of gains and losses, which can obscure an overall upward trend.Headlines shouldn't dictate when you invest they may not reflect what's actually happening in the market.Conversation points to consider with your clients Certainly, the downturn precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic differs from past downturns in many ways yet it offers enough similarities that previous bearish periods can offer helpful comparisons. Waiting on the sidelines for positive news headlines can mean missing out on the most significant percentage gains of a recovery. The long-term trend, however, was a rising market. In addition, it came with a considerable share of downbeat news after the trough, making it difficult to tell a recovery was even happening. The recovery from the global financial crisis, you could point out, was particularly rocky (see the chart below). While no one enjoys watching a large chunk of their nest egg evaporate in a plunging market, a behavioral coach can help put such events into context. Show empathy-offer examplesĪ behavioral coach empathizes with clients, acknowledging the emotions that can stem from experiencing dramatic portfolio losses. This article offers an approach to help you help your clients manage their emotions in today's environment, including a link to a related resource you can share with clients.

As an advisor, you can serve as the voice of calm and confidence that eases clients' anxiety and reminds them of their long-term objectives. In such an environment, even experienced, long-term investors might begin to question their plans. Still, the emotional shock of substantial portfolio losses, accompanied by a stream of unsettling news stories, can threaten to overwhelm reason. After all, trying to time the market is a quixotic and typically underperforming pursuit, compared with simply staying invested. One theme they might want to pursue: Will there be an all-clear signal to let them know when major market turbulence is over? Specifically, will they be able to pinpoint a policy action or news headline that confirms it's OK for them to put money in the financial markets again?įor long-term investors, the answers to these questions should be no. Clients may rely upon you as a source of information, a comforting voice, or perhaps someone to whom they can vent their fears and frustrations about their losses. While a downturn in the financial markets is almost always painful for clients, it can also put tremendous pressure on you as an advisor.
