It’s the end of the year. –

ready for the 2018 market forecast?

It’s coming in full force.

Let me remind you:

Financial forecasts are noise

Financial pundits shout noise

Magazines print noise

Anything that gives us a prediction about the future is noise.

Year to date the US markets are up around 17%. International over 20%! But here are some of the headlines that were printed throughout the year.

The stock market is going down!

Stock market crash is coming!

Get ready for a market correction!

Once in a lifetime crash is coming!

At some point the stock market will go down. It’s a cycle – so there will be a time when these forecasters will be right! But does that mean they were right? We are emotionally wired to seek out someone or something that we believe will give us an advantage. We crave it. We want a shortcut to achieve financial success.

Actionable information is the key.

Information that you can take and use to make a change! But what happens if the information does more harm than good?False prophesies are designed to scare you to read, click and buy/sell. They are not customized to your life and situation.

In reality what you should be craving is substance. A sound financial plan is substance. A financial plan allows you to tune out the noise. Every financial action you take needs to be guided by a road map.

Life is much simpler when you have a map.

So, what do you do as we head into in 2018.

First thing is to figure out how did 2017 go. Did you accomplish what you needed too?  Where do you stand financially?  Now you must forget the economic forecasts… the only thing that matters is have your goals changed, your timelines changed? If so, then you make changes to your investments.  You should rebalance or reduce or take on additional risk in your portfolio only if it will help you accomplish your goals.  NOT because some screamed loudly on TV.  They are not screaming at you nor do they know your situation.

There are many people kicking themselves for being in cash since 2009—they heard the screams and they acted on them.  Once again, I am not saying the markets can’t come down, I am saying invest for yourself and your situation not for anyone else’s,

Tune out the noise, seek out the substance.

-Jared