2Q23 investment Markets Review
This post is a Q2 investment market review. You will find our thoughts on the market, what we are doing in investment portfolios as a result, and a few deeper dive resources.
“It’s a bull market!” is in the headlines. Yep, it’s true. The stock markets have moved upwards in a big way recently. Since Oct 2022, the S&P 500 is up by nearly 26%, surpassing the +20% common definition of a bull market. In fact, the S&P 500 is nearly back to the high point reached in December 2021. International stock markets are also up, but not as significantly.
Bond markets meanwhile, remain well below their recent highs (in July 2020). For details and data, see the quarter commentary reports below.
We are reviewing our managed portfolios to ensure they are properly allocated to the investment plan. The “fancy” word for this work is asset allocation and re-balancing.
We work carefully to construct investment portfolios that will support our clients’ lives and dreams. A primary component of portfolio design is proper asset allocation: the proportion of a portfolio in low expected return&risk to higher expected return&risk investments.
The stock market has advanced over the last three months while the bond markets have remained flat. This presents an opportunity to re-align portfolios with the intended mix of expected return vs. risk by pruning some stocks and planting some bonds.
If you are an investment management client of TrailFP, we will contact you with details about our review of your portfolio and any actions taken as a result.
The rest of this message includes links to a written review of market performance and John’s audio tour of the report.
Detailed Market Performance – a read
To view a detailed analysis of investment performance in the US and global stock and bond markets, click on the button below.
Detailed Market Performance – a watch
The following link is a 10-minute guided tour of the same investment report as linked above. This time with my voiceover. It’s may be too fast for you to read the full report, but you may find the information more digestible.
The investment market performance report is prepared by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), one of our partners in investment management and client support. If you would like to find out more about DFA, you can visit their website directly at: https://www.dimensional.com/
Life and investing
We believe that your finances should support a great life. Your investments are a big piece of your finances. But let’s not forget about life! John went on a wonderful river trip with his family down the Deschutes River in June. We were able to celebrate being outside and being together as a family. Part of our trip was to commemorate our dad/husband/grandad who passed away in 2016, and who taught us the meaning of wild spaces and togetherness. Thanks dad! I’ve attached a few photos below.
Disclosures and end notes
Information contained within is generalized information about investing and the investment markets. It should not be considered investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Past investment performance should not be used as a predictor of future investment performance. Investing in markets comes with an inherent risk of losing money.
