Back

Navigating Financial Markets: How to Stay Optimistic Amid Fourth Quarter Market Volatility

Reasons for a Balanced Perspective

As we enter the last stretch of the year, the financial markets are awash with turbulence, caused by increasing interest rates and ongoing economic ambiguity. The S&P 500 slid by 3.3% in the third quarter when dividends were factored in, and the U.S. Aggregate Bond Index didn’t fare much better, dipping by 3.2%. While it’s easy to succumb to a gloomy outlook given similar circumstances last year, it’s crucial to maintain a balanced perspective for long-term investment success.
Stock and Bond Annual Returns
Stocks and bonds have both struggled recently due to rising inflation and interest rates. This breaks the historical pattern driven by falling bond yields which supported bond prices. Despite this challenging period, investors should continue to focus on diversification as interest rates stabilize.

The Psychological Trap of Negativity Bias in Investing

Investing is a long-term endeavor, and one of its main challenges is the human predisposition towards negativity bias. This cognitive shortcut causes us to disproportionately focus on adverse events, often overlooking the positive ones. In the investment world, good news often accumulates gradually, making it easy to discount in the face of abrupt and unsettling negative developments. Learning to manage this bias is essential for maintaining a balanced investment perspective.

Why This Year's Market Conditions Are Different

While there may be surface resemblances to last year’s market conditions, it’s crucial to recognize the unique factors shaping 2023’s financial landscape.

  • Easing Inflation: Unlike last year when inflation reached unprecedented highs, the current metrics indicate substantial improvement. Both the Consumer Price Index and core CPI have shown significant drops compared to their peaks last year.
  • Resilient Economy: Predictions of a recession last year were thankfully off the mark. Metrics such as the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow and low unemployment rates paint an encouraging picture, surpassing even the most optimistic forecasts from last year.
  • A More Cautious Fed: After a quick succession of rate hikes, the Federal Reserve is now in a wait-and-see mode, suggesting a period of stability in interest rates. This is helping sectors like real estate, banking, and tech stocks to adjust and potentially recover.

Navigating the Challenges Ahead

Despite these positive signs, challenges undoubtedly lie ahead. However, understanding that markets never move in a linear fashion, even during upward trends, can offer solace. Markets are inherently volatile, and recognizing this fact allows us to stay level-headed as we face the final quarter and beyond.

Five Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
  1. As we enter the final quarter of 2023, understand what’s driving the financial markets and how to stay ahead. Know how factors like easing inflation and a resilient economy can influence your investment.

  2. Negativity bias can hinder your investment strategy. Learn how to overcome this psychological trap for a more balanced investment approach.

  3. In a volatile market, long-term investment strategies are crucial. Discover the five key takeaways to guide your investment decisions for the rest of 2023 and beyond.

Remember, investing isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Being aware of the psychological pitfalls and market conditions can arm you with the tools you need to stay optimistic and financially sound as we close out the year.

Disclaimer
The content on this site, provided by Able Wealth Management, is purely informational. While we aim for accuracy and completeness, we cannot guarantee the exactness of the information presented. The views and analyses expressed in this blog represent those of the authors at Able Wealth Management. They should not be considered as investment advice or endorsement of any particular financial instrument or strategy. Any references to specific securities and their performance are purely informational and should not be taken as advice to buy or sell.Before implementing any information or ideas presented, we strongly advise consulting with a financial advisor, accountant, or legal counsel. Investing carries inherent risks, including potential capital loss. Asset values can fluctuate over time and may be worth more or less than the original investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and Able Wealth Management cannot ensure that your financial goals will be achieved. Information from third-party sources has not been independently verified by Able Wealth Management. Although we trust these sources, we cannot assure their accuracy or completeness.

Schedule an appointment

Volatility Drag

Volatility drag, often unnoticed by many investors, plays a significant role in the performance of investment portfolios, especially in markets characterized by high volatility. Understanding volatility drag is crucial for making informed investment decisions and managing long-term investment performance.

Understanding Volatility Drag

Volatility drag refers to the negative effect of investment volatility on compound returns over time. It occurs because losses have a more significant impact on portfolio value than gains of the same magnitude. For example, if an investment loses 10% one year and gains 10% the next, the investment will not return to its starting value due to the mathematical asymmetry between gains and losses. This phenomenon underscores the importance of minimizing large fluctuations in investment value to protect long-term returns.

The Mathematics Behind Volatility Drag

The mathematical principle underlying volatility drag is relatively straightforward but profound in its implications for investors. The key concept is that percentage gains and losses are not symmetrical. A 50% loss requires a 100% gain to break even, not a 50% gain. This asymmetry means that volatility (up and down movements in price) can erode the compound growth rate of an investment, even if the arithmetic mean of the returns seems healthy.

Example of Volatility Drag

Consider an investment with the following annual returns: +20%, -15%, +10%, and -5%. While the arithmetic mean of these returns might suggest a modest positive performance, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) would tell a different story, factoring in the volatility drag and showing a lower effective return than the arithmetic mean would suggest.

Implications for Investors

  • Risk Management: Understanding volatility drag emphasizes the importance of risk management strategies, such as diversification and the use of derivatives for hedging, to minimize significant downturns in portfolio value.
  • Investment Strategy: Investors might consider investment strategies that aim for steady, consistent returns over those with potentially higher but more volatile returns. Such strategies might include investing in low-volatility stocks, index funds, or using dollar-cost averaging to mitigate the impact of market fluctuations.
  • Psychological Aspects: Volatility drag also highlights the psychological challenge for investors who may overreact to short-term market movements. A long-term perspective is crucial for successful investing, as frequent trading in response to volatility can exacerbate the drag on returns.
  • Performance Evaluation: When assessing investment performance, considering both the arithmetic mean return and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) can provide a more comprehensive view of an investment’s performance, factoring in the effect of volatility.

Financial Planning Fees

Plan Type
Sources of Income (select all that apply)
Additional Considerations
Total Fee: $0
  • Fees can be paid monthly, quarterly or semi annually
  • Actual fee will be determined on complexity and scope after an initial consultation
Investment Advisory Fees


Fee Rate: %


Annual Fee: $

  • Fee charged on a percentage-tiered rate
  • Fee based on total assets managed
  • Fee covers services such as portfolio design, continuous monitoring, rebalancing, and personalized guidance

Join Our Mailing List