This article is not intended to be financial advice specific to your particular circumstances.
Written by Scott Tindle, CFA
9 July 2020
Written by Scott Tindle, CFA
9 July 2020
The Best Places To Park Cash
Well it’s certainly a better time than it was a month ago. And a better time than at any point in the last 3-4 years. This is partly due to the economic shock of the coronavirus; most companies will undoubtedly make less money in the next few years than previously expected.
But the selloff is also due to the structure of the market; there are far more complicated things that can be done within financial markets than simply buy stocks. Most of these actions involve some form of ‘investing’ (perhaps more accurately termed ‘betting’) with borrowed money.
If big Jim over there lent you £100 as you sauntered into Paddy Power on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, he might ask for your watch as a bit of collateral on the loan. If you start losing big Jim’s money, Jim might demand you give him back what’s left of his money. He’d also sell your watch in order to recoup his loan. And that’s what’s been happening in financial markets: as traders have lost money they borrowed, they have been forced to sell what they still own, thus pushing prices lower and lower. Meanwhile, the financial market equivalents of big Jim have been selling what they took as collateral – and the price of most investments, including stocks, have been hammered as a result.
The story of the gambler and big Jim has very little relevance to a long-term investor in stocks, except that these moments of ‘liquidity’ panics (when people need to sell investments to generate cash) have historically created attractive entry points for long-term owners of stocks. I believe we are in one of those moments right now.
But the selloff is also due to the structure of the market; there are far more complicated things that can be done within financial markets than simply buy stocks. Most of these actions involve some form of ‘investing’ (perhaps more accurately termed ‘betting’) with borrowed money.
If big Jim over there lent you £100 as you sauntered into Paddy Power on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, he might ask for your watch as a bit of collateral on the loan. If you start losing big Jim’s money, Jim might demand you give him back what’s left of his money. He’d also sell your watch in order to recoup his loan. And that’s what’s been happening in financial markets: as traders have lost money they borrowed, they have been forced to sell what they still own, thus pushing prices lower and lower. Meanwhile, the financial market equivalents of big Jim have been selling what they took as collateral – and the price of most investments, including stocks, have been hammered as a result.
The story of the gambler and big Jim has very little relevance to a long-term investor in stocks, except that these moments of ‘liquidity’ panics (when people need to sell investments to generate cash) have historically created attractive entry points for long-term owners of stocks. I believe we are in one of those moments right now.
How do I know that stocks are right for me?
The decision whether or not to buy stocks – and how much to buy – should begin with a financial planning process. This process should answer, among other things, the question of your timeframe. For example, are you talking about a pot of money, like a pension, that you can’t touch for twenty years anyway, or you talking about money that might be used for a bigger house or private education? Or, if you’re older, perhaps you are considering how your investments can pay for your standard of living for the rest of your life – as well as, perhaps, considering how to invest savings that you intend to pass on to future generations.
By going through the financial planning process you determine whether you would truly be investing for the long-term if you were to buy stocks today. Having such a plan before making any investment decisions is, by far, the best guidance that I can give right now.
By going through the financial planning process you determine whether you would truly be investing for the long-term if you were to buy stocks today. Having such a plan before making any investment decisions is, by far, the best guidance that I can give right now.
If you would like to discuss this further
TindleWealth offers all-encompassing financial advice that includes, if you wish, creating and managing investment portfolios that are tailored to your financial plan.
Every initial consultation is free and most people learn something from this free chat even if they don't move forward - so please do get in touch if you think discussing this stuff might be helpful. Use the form below to contact us or reach out to Scott directly at scott@tindlewealth.com
If you choose to become a client, you should expect to pay a minimum of £200 per month. Households with income or investments in excess of £200,000 are most likely to get excellent value from our service. We will only take you on board as a client if we feel we will offer value for money. We have very happy clients and we want to keep it that way!
TindleWealth offers all-encompassing financial advice that includes, if you wish, creating and managing investment portfolios that are tailored to your financial plan.
Every initial consultation is free and most people learn something from this free chat even if they don't move forward - so please do get in touch if you think discussing this stuff might be helpful. Use the form below to contact us or reach out to Scott directly at scott@tindlewealth.com
If you choose to become a client, you should expect to pay a minimum of £200 per month. Households with income or investments in excess of £200,000 are most likely to get excellent value from our service. We will only take you on board as a client if we feel we will offer value for money. We have very happy clients and we want to keep it that way!