Financial Insights Blog

Time in the Market vs. Timing the Market

It’s been a rough ride. For those of you who haven’t been keeping score, the first quarter of 2022 had investors reeling from wide swings in the stock market, ultimately ending 5.33% in the hole. And this, just two years after the S&P 500 dropped more than 37% during the Covid pandemic. Countless folks responded by moving their portfolios into a cash position, absolutely convinced that they were outsmarting the market, limiting their losses, and protecting their retirement. How were they to know that less than 9 months after its lowest point in 2020, not only would the market dig out of that hole but would end at highs we had never seen. By liquidating their investments, they missed out on that growth. Hindsight is always 20/20.

“Buy low, sell high,” they say. For decades, this has been the philosophy we’ve been told will reap the greatest rewards. The problem is, how do we know when the low is low, and the high is high? Bottom line, we don’t. We can research, analyze, study, and research some more but ultimately, the market is its own beast far out of our control. Just look at American history… our country has experienced a Great Depression, two World Wars, Black Monday, Y2K and the dotcom burst, the housing market crash, and a global pandemic. There have been plenty of reasons to jump out of the market due to fear and uncertainty.

In 2018, Ken Fisher, the founder of Fisher Investments, authored an article for USA Today that has since become famous. Here is an excerpt from that article:

“Riding all of the stock market’s ups – and none of its downs – is a popular fantasy. Who wouldn’t want to skip rough patches such as early 2018, late 2015 or all of 2008?

Alas, it’s impossible. Even the greatest investors are wrong maybe a third of the time.

But here’s some good news: You don’t need perfect timing to achieve marvelous returns. Time in the market beats timing the market – almost always.”

Yes, time in the market beats timing the market. Study after study has proven this to be true. Investors might occasionally be able to make the right call by timing the market, but consistently placing the correct bet at the most opportune time is nearly impossible without a crystal ball. And there are real consequences when market timing doesn’t work out. If an investor gets out of the market too early or a market drop never materializes, they could miss out on significant additional positive returns by having gotten out. This is exactly what happened to those investors whose knee-jerk reaction in 2020 was to sell.

Time in the market means building a diversified portfolio consisting of quality funds that have stood the test of time and hanging on for dear life. Time in the market refers to relying on a strategy where you don’t try to guess when the market is at its lowest or highest point. Instead, you buy the market knowing that your timing is probably going to be off, but that eventually, the fundamentals matter more than the timing. These investors are in it for the long haul.

“Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow,” said Paul Samuelson, one of the most notable and influential economists of the 20th century.

When weighing the pros and cons of time in the market vs timing the market, remember that time in the market has historically offered a better outcome… even if it feels overwhelming amid market volatility and financial uncertainty. If you might be prone to feeling anxious about the markets, having an advisor take the reins or serve as your guide can be invaluable to help you stay on course with your investments. An advisor can also talk you through what’s happening in the markets, and help you understand what it all means for your portfolio. By investing in mutual funds with a long-term strategy and a holistic game plan created by a fiduciary financial advisor, you can balance your tolerance for risk with the unique situations in your life and future goals.

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Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background

Background: Ryan was born and raised in Omaha, NE. He has led Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University since 2012 and attended Ramsey Solutions Financial Coach Master Training in 2016. Also, in 2016, Ryan started Nelson Financial Coaching to help clients improve their behavior with money. Ryan is an investment advisor representative and registered representative holding series 7 and 66 registrations with Western International Securities.

Financial Philosophy: Ryan believes in being a guide to help clients on their financial journey. Ryan enjoys teaching and encouraging others. He believes clients should only invest in something that they truly understand. “I want to listen and understand your story. I want to know why you want to invest your money and what your financial goals are. That way we can create a plan together.” Ryan believes that one size does not fit all. Each client is different and helping them create a plan is what drives him every day.

Personal Background: Ryan currently lives in Elkhorn, NE with his wife Courtney. They have 3 daughters Zoey, Harper, and Maggie. Ryan and Courtney enjoy leading FPU at their church. Ryan enjoys spending time with family, reading books, and cooking with friends.

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Personal Background: Chrissie is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Norfolk. She and her husband have 4 children, two boys and two girls. She loves to spend time with her family. Her favorite past time is cheering on the Huskers and her favorite hobby is running.

Personal Background: Mary is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Wahoo. She and her husband have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. They thoroughly enjoy all of their antics and activities. In their “spare” time they also enjoy camping, golf, horseback riding, traveling and the Huskers.

Personal Background: Katherine is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Aurora. After graduating from high school, she went on to study English at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Katherine moved to Omaha in 2006 to be closer to family. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys spending time with family and friends, relaxing at her family’s farm, being outdoors, and is an avid fan of tennis.

Personal Background: Sarah is a native of Nebraska, born and raised in Omaha. She has come to accept the unpredictable weather Nebraska offers. Sarah loves spending time with her husband and three children, cheering for her favorite sports team (Huskers, Royals, Packers and Thunder), reading, cooking and being outdoors.

Personal Background: Anna was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She recently received her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In her spare time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and playing the guitar.

Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background 

Background: If you had asked Mandy what she wanted to be when she was growing up, she would have said she wanted to be a dancer like her mom.  She never would have imagined herself following in her father’s footsteps instead, pursuing a career in the field of business.  After being a stay-at-home mom for 12 years and having personal experiences with her own financial advisors, she realized that this was the path for her.

Mandy has been in the industry since 2016.  Her undergraduate work was completed at The Master’s College, and she later earned her MBA from Bellevue University. She is an investment advisor representative and registered representative holding series 7 and 66 registrations with Western International Securities.  Mandy is a licensed fiduciary.

Financial Philosophy: As the common saying goes, “most people don’t plan to fail, they simply fail to plan” and Mandy understands that the topic of money is not generally something folks want to talk about.  Addressing one’s financial situation, for a variety of reasons, oftentimes gets pushed to the back burner.

Mandy enjoys educating her clients – ensuring they understand their investments and how they work.  She is passionate about building relationships, answering questions, and guiding her clients along the way.  She steps back and looks at the big picture, outlining a path for her clients to follow that leads them to their goals.  She is very passionate about this process, treats her client portfolios with the care and commitment she would her own, and finds her job extremely rewarding.

Personal Background: Mandy was born and raised in Montana. She has since traveled the world and now resides in Nebraska with her husband and three boys. She enjoys exercising, finding adventures outdoors with her family, and a good glass of wine over conversation with a friend.

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Background: Chadd Hoeft began his career in 1999 and co-founded Asset Strategies in 2002. Because of his experience, integrity, and professionalism, Chadd has been helping Dave Ramsey and Ramsey Solutions fans with their investments for nearly 19 years. Chadd believes in the principles that Ramsey Solutions teaches and serves each client using those investment philosophies. Chadd is an investment advisor representative and registered representative holding series 6, 7, 63, & 66 registrations with Western International Securities.

Financial Philosophy: Chadd believes that the best approach in helping clients is to get to know them personally. “It is important to sit down with the prospective client and take time to learn who they are.” Chadd strives to understand their financial concerns to identify areas in which he can add value to their lives. The next step is to educate the client on the game plan that has been built. “It is the client’s money; they need to be educated on how their accounts are being invested.” Furthermore, Chadd’s goal is to serve his clients over the long-term. “Whether it is the accumulation phase or the distribution phase, we want to be here to help our clients make good decisions.”

Personal Background: Chadd was born in Grand Island, grew up in Omaha, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His home is in Elkhorn with his wife Suzi, son Drew, daughter Campbell, and wheaten terrier, Wrigley. Chadd and his family’s Christian faith are very important to them. He happily serves on a couple of boards at their church. You’ll find Chadd spending time with family and friends and coaching Drew’s football, baseball, and basketball teams. He is an avid sports fan. If one of his favorite teams is playing, he will be watching with high interest.

"Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Jump to: Background  |  Financial Philosophy  |  Personal Background  |  Quote

Background: Justin grew up on a farm ranch in Southwest Nebraska. Justin began his career as an advisor in 2000 and co-founded Asset Strategies in 2002. As an Investment Advisor Representative with Western International Securities, Justin has been helping Dave Ramsey and Ramsey Solutions fans with their investments for nearly 19 years because of his experience, integrity, and professionalism. Justin believes in sharing the same investment philosophies with his clients that Dave teaches on his program. He enjoys helping clients begin their journey to building wealth and helping clients manage the wealth they’ve already accumulated or inherited.

Financial Philosophy:

Justin tries to put himself in his client’s shoes when making recommendations. He values trusted and honest relationships, and that is the kind of advisor he wants to be for his clients. Additionally, Justin wants his clients to feel like they can come to him with all of their financial questions. “Whether it is about investing with us or making a personal financial decision outside of our company, I want my clients to feel comfortable talking to me about the decisions they are faced with.”

Justin is also knowledgeable and strives to educate his clients on the investing options they have. He does not believe “one size fits all”. “Each client has their own unique interests and situation, and I want to make sure my recommendations fit their individual goals.”

Personal Background: In his spare time, Justin enjoys coaching youth sports, reading, trips to the farm ranch, spending time with friends, and serving in his church. He lives in Plattsmouth, Nebraska with his wife Jenny, daughters Rachel and Ashleigh, and son Braden. Justin graduated from Hastings College with degrees in Business Administration and Economics. He is an investment advisor representative and registered representative and holds series 6, 7, 63 & 66 registrations.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

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