When Investing for Retirement, Be Like Rip Van Winkle
Spend 20 years in a stupor, rather than getting anxious about daily stock market fluctuations, and reap the rewards of retirement investment returns adding up.
I love a good children’s fairy tale. Those stories have a way of teaching us a message without us feeling like it is learning. We simply get lost in the story, and the next thing we know, boom, message learned. I thought I would take a shot at making a parallel to one of my favorite children’s books with Rip Van Winkle.
Now, I know what you are thinking, and no, I don’t love this story because it is about a drunkard who goes hunting to avoid his wife’s nagging only to meet a friendly Dutchman who offers him booze, causing him to pass out for 20 years. Funny, as I recap the story, it seems odd that this is a children’s book, no?
The investing analogy
Rather, I tell clients this story quite often as an analogy to investing. You see, much like Rip Van Winkle, the world goes on with or without us. Things evolve, economies mature, and markets grow. More pertinent, the markets continue to ebb and flow in an upward trajectory.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
I’ll often tell people that if they look at the stock market every day and dwell over its gyrations, they will go insane, and trust me, I’ve tried — why else do you think I’m writing an article about Rip Van Winkle? The only thing accomplished by looking at and putting so much emotion into the daily swings of the markets is increased anxiety. What happens when you have increased anxiety, one may ask? Simple, we tend to do something ill-advised or emotionally charged, when the markets just don’t care.
While Rip Van Winkle was away, his village grew, his kids had children, and his wife passed away. These things happened irrespective of the fact that Rip was in a drunken stupor for 20 years. Much the same happens whether you freak out over the stock markets, pay no attention at all or get your CFA designation — the markets simply don’t care. They will continue to ebb and flow with or without your investment. That is why I often give this advice: Be Rip Van Winkle — you’ll be happier, less stressed and, magically enough, get 100% of the market growth that you very much deserve.
Let’s go back in time
Let me take a moment to drive my point home. If we looked back 20 years — yes, to a time before iPhones when BlackBerrys ruled — and studied the markets, we would learn some very important data. The Dow Jones was at about 10,315, while the S&P 500 was at about 1,100. Over those 20 years, we have witnessed an insane number of happenings in the world around us and, subsequently, the stock markets. We saw the Great Recession, the global pandemic, multiple wars, Brexit, hyperinflation and like 50 rounds of quantitative easing, just to name a few.
Think back on your own life of what happened during those 20 years — it is quite humbling. Now, if we fast-forward to the present, we have a Dow Jones close to 40,000 and an S&P at about 5,300 — about four to five times their values 20 years ago. Astonishing, right? It was far from a straight line, of course. Heck, in 2008, these indexes were both below their 2004 values, again causing mass panic to those who were tuned in. As a matter of fact, I still have new clients come in who are feeling the aftermath of those years, refusing to believe in the markets ever again. Which, as you can see, is a real shame since if they’d listened to Mr. Van Winkle, they would have multiples of their assets by simply doing nothing.
You see what I just did there, folks? You were reading a nice little story about a children’s book, and boom, you learned a hugely important investing lesson without you even noticing. I can’t stress enough that trust, faith and 20 years in a stupor will do wonders for your investment portfolio!
In the words of Rip Van Winkle, stay wealthy, healthy and happy, everyone.
Diversified is a registered investment adviser, and the registration of an investment adviser does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC.
A copy of Diversified’s current written disclosure brochure which discusses, among other things, the firm’s business practices, services and fees, is available through the SEC’s website at: www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Diversified, LLC does not provide tax advice and should not be relied upon for purposes of filing taxes, estimating tax liabilities or avoiding any tax or penalty imposed by law. The information provided by Diversified, LLC should not be a substitute for consulting a qualified tax advisor, accountant, or other professional concerning the application of tax law or an individual tax situation.
Nothing provided on this site constitutes tax advice. Individuals should seek the advice of their own tax advisor for specific information regarding tax consequences of investments. Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors. This site is not a recommendation nor an offer to sell (or solicitation of an offer to buy) securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction.
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
In March 2010, Andrew Rosen joined Diversified, bringing with him nine years of financial industry experience. As a financial planner, Andrew forges lifelong relationships with clients, coaching them through all stages of life. He has obtained his Series 6, 7 and 63, along with property/casualty and health/life insurance licenses. Andrew consistently delivers high-level, concierge service to all clients.
-
Stock Market Today: Dow Logs Longest Losing Streak Since April
The November Producer Price Index showed that inflation remains a tough beast to tame.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Why Uber Stock Is Volatile After GM's Cruise Announcement
Uber stock is swinging this week following news that General Motors is restructuring its Cruise unit. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Three Possible Tax Impacts for Retirees Under Trump
How might a second Trump term affect your tax bill in retirement — or the inheritance tax bill for your heirs? This pro has three predictions.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published
-
What to Know About Leverage and Bitcoin's Meteoric Rise
Leverage in the financial world can lead to astonishing success or a crushing collapse. How are investors using leverage to invest in bitcoin?
By Stephen P. Harbeck Published
-
How Do You Know When It's Time to Change Financial Advisers?
Sometimes a breakup is for the best. Here's how to handle 'the talk' and make the switch to a new professional who's a better fit for you.
By Kelli Kiemle, AIF® Published
-
The Best Ways to Use Your Year-End Bonus (and the Worst)
'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' shouldn't be anyone's go-to for financial advice, but it does remind us how not to spend a holiday bonus.
By Frank J. Legan Published
-
LLCs: Power Tools That Can Create Big Problems
Forming an LLC for your business might seem like a straightforward endeavor, but if you don't know exactly what you're doing, trouble could follow.
By Rustin Diehl, JD, LLM Published
-
Never Talk About Money? For Women, That Can Spell Disaster
How can you plan for retirement when your husband holds the purse strings and talking about money is taboo? Help is at hand for this common problem for women.
By Cynthia Pruemm, Investment Adviser Representative Published
-
How Combining Your Home Equity and IRA Can Supercharge Your Retirement
While many retirees own an IRA and a home, very few are considering how they could work together in a plan for retirement income.
By Jerry Golden, Investment Adviser Representative Published
-
The Six Estate Planning Steps Every Blended Family Must Take
Whether your blended family is newly formed or fully fledged, use these six steps to review your estate plans now and lower the risk of conflict in the future.
By Stephen B. Dunbar III, JD, CLU Published