From the Desk of Todd Wike

I hope you enjoyed this (very hot!) summer and were able to spend quality time with your family and friends. It goes without saying, this has been a very difficult year for stock investors, bond investors, and, therefore, “balanced” investors. While July’s temperatures were relentless, the month offered a very much-needed break from the volatility of the market.

As the summer wanes and back to school approaches, I thought I would share this Student of the Market update from Blackrock. It offers some historical data on recessions, mid-term elections, and that infamous “inverted yield curve” that has been appearing in financial headlines this summer. We’re all hoping that the worst is behind us for this year and data like this supports that hope.

To quote one of my favorite and often-used sayings about the stock market:

“The stock market is nothing more than fear, hope, and greed only loosely tied to the business cycle.”

We’ve had our fair share of fear over the first half of this year, and I know we’re not alone in our desire to move along to the next stage of this cycle. Enjoy the remainder of your summer and take good care of yourselves while we work hard to do the same with your financial plan.

As always, if you have any questions or need additional information, please reach out.

Take care,

Todd M. Wike, CFP®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Managing Partner, Potomac Financial Group
2022 RJFS Chairman’s Council Member*

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