If you have been paying attention to financial markets for the past eight years you may have noticed that we are in a bull market.  You may be wondering what you should do.  If so, you are in the right place.

There are three types of investors when it comes to a bull market:

• Overly confident investors who become intoxicated by the seemingly perpetual upward swing and feel that the market will never go down again.
• Fearful investors who are sure that the bull market is on the verge of souring because the market is at all time highs.
• Even keeled investors who know that there will be both good and bad days ahead.  Those that have a long term approach, so they aren’t overly affected by bull markets, or bear markets for that matter.

At Windward, we coach our clients to be in the third category.  Investing for retirement is a marathon, not a sprint, so it takes a long-term approach to be successful.  Becoming the third type of investor takes thoughtful practice and an awareness of your own biases and emotional tendencies.  Windward is here to help.  Our advisors act as coaches, guiding you through challenging market decisions as well as setting up a plan that encompasses your entire financial life (there’s much more to financial health than investing).

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be releasing a series of blog posts covering topics related to navigating bull markets (as well as planning for the inevitable bear market).  Some of the topics that will be discussed are:

• Why you shouldn’t drastically change your plan even though we’ve been in a long bull market and it has to end at some point.
• How to train yourself not to get too caught up in the intoxicating feeling of rising markets and how to overcome your fear of inevitable bear markets.
• Why predicting when a bull market will end (or start) is nearly impossible.

The aim of this series is to help guide you through important investment decisions you need to make for your long-term portfolio.  As always, we are here if you have any questions, and are happy to help!

This blog is provided by Windward Private Wealth Management Inc. (“Windward” or the “Firm”) for informational purposes only. Investing involves the risk of loss and investors should be prepared to bear potential losses. No portion of this blog is to be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell a security or the provision of personalized investment, tax or legal advice. Certain information contained in the individual blog posts will be derived from sources that Windward believes to be reliable; however, the Firm does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of such information and assumes no liability for any resulting damages.

Windward is an SEC registered investment adviser. The Firm may only provide services in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for a corresponding exemption from such requirements. For information about Windward’ registration status and business operations, please consult the Firm’s Form ADV disclosure documents, the most recent versions of which are available on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.