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In stock market downturns, many investors are relieved to be on the sidelines. But then this worry often sets in – If I’m not invested how do I reach my financial goals? One way to answer that question is to look at what could have happened if you ignored the dramatic headlines and had simply stayed invested. As the graph shows below, the stock market has constant ups and downs, but typically returns to its previous high with time, even after bear markets.

Stock Market

S&P 500 Index

The image is a line graph. The X-axis represents the years from 1985 to the end of 2019. The Y-axis represents the return of the MSCI World Index, although it does not have any numbers. The line starts in 1985 at the bottom of the X-axis and ends at the very top of the graph at the end of 2020. There are three shaded areas on the graph from the return line down to the x axis. The first is labelled: “Black Monday” Crash, September 1987 to November 1987, -21.3%. The second is labelled: Tech Meltdown, April 2000 to March 2003, -48.7%. The third is labelled: Financial Crisis, February 2007 to February 2009, -45.1%.

Stock market returns represented by the S&P 500 Index. Source: Morningstar.

This example is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be representative of the performance of any actual or future investment available to investors. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Returns are calculated in U.S. dollars and assume reinvestment of all income and no transaction costs or taxes for the period January 1, 1985 to June 30, 2022. Actual returns would be different due to fees and expenses associated with investing which are not applicable to an index. For purposes of this illustration, a bear market is defined as an index falling at least 20% from a previous high.

Time in the market is time well-spent

When markets start to fall, our instincts often tell us to sell now and buy again later. That may seem logical, but how do you pick the right time to exit or re-enter the market? Because rallies can sometimes come in surges measured in days not weeks, being out of the market for even a few days can mean missing out on gains.

Missing the Best Days Can Hurt

Growth of $10,000 in the Bloomberg Aggregate Credit Index, 20 years ending 12/31/21.

For illustrative purposes only. Returns have been rounded to the nearest whole number for simplicity. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. It is not possible to invest in an index. Index performance does not include any investment-related fees or expenses. Source: FactSet. Daily data as of 31 December 2001 to 31 December 2021. Total returns (gross) are that of the Bloomberg US Aggregate Credit index in US dollars. Analysis shows hypothetical returns of investing $10,000 in the index at the start of the timeframe, and either remaining fully invested during the entire timeframe or missing a specified number of highest, positive performing days - and reinvesting for the subsequent day’s return. Analysis ranks all daily returns and investors that miss out on either the top-10, -20 or -30 highest returning days do not grow their investment by that return for that particular day. If the following day does not fall into a top-10, -20 or -30 range that they are meant to miss, then the growth of the investment resumes that day. For example: December 18, 2008 was the 18th highest daily return during the period shown, so those missing the top 20 and 30 best days did not receive that return. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Returns are that of the Bloomberg US Aggregate Credit

Stock market returns represented by the S&P 500 Index. Source: Morningstar.

This example is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be representative of the performance of any actual or future investment available to investors. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Returns are calculated in U.S. dollars, compounded daily, and assume reinvestment of all income and no transaction costs or taxes for the period January 1, 1985 to December 31, 2020. Actual returns would be different due to fees and expenses associated with investing which are not applicable to an index. For purposes of this illustration, “best days” are defined as days with the highest growth in percentage terms.

When the markets fall, it pays to stay focused on your long-term investment goals.

For more information, speak to your advisor.

 

This content is provided for information and illustrative purposes only and is not intended to provide specific financial, tax, insurance, investment, legal or accounting advice and should not be relied upon in that regard and does not constitute a specific offer to buy and/or sell securities.

Information contained in this document has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made with respect to its timeliness or accuracy.