July 13, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by First National Wealth Management.

When you watch the news, read the headlines or scroll social media, anything related to the financial sector can seem like an absolute roller coaster. From low interest rates, volatility in the stock market or even the current housing market, people are constantly analyzing what’s going on and trying to predict what’s going to happen next.

But if you take the advice of Paul Lehman, the head of the bank and trust group at Dimensional Fund Advisors, you’ll learn that there’s a difference between news and noise, and that no one can really predict anything. On our latest episode of “Common Cents on the Prairie,” we sat down for an in-depth conversation with Lehman, and he shared what you can do to have the peace of mind that you’re on the right track for a secure financial future.

You can read a recap of our conversation here, listen to the entire episode by clicking the player below or find it wherever you stream your podcasts.

Are we at a market top?

After the ‘COVID crash’ in March 2020, many investors feared no end in sight for plunging prices as the reality of prolonged lockdowns set in. With the S&P 500 Index up over 95 percent, including dividends since March 23, 2020, many are confused why the market is as high as it is right now and wonder if we’re in a bubble. In other words, the market has performed so well for so long, they think it’s destined to crash.

One thing that has led to this speculation is the current housing market. The spike in home prices right now reminds some of 2007 and 2008 when demand for homes reached record levels, causing major surges in prices. We all know now that these high prices were not sustainable for the homebuyers – or many lenders – which led to the crash of the housing market that sent ripples throughout the entire economy, leading to the Great Recession.

There are definite differences between what happened then and what’s going on now, which just goes to show you that predicting what markets will do is a fool’s errand.

“The notion of trying to understand where the market’s going to go next is almost impossible,” Lehman said. “It’s because the market is so good at processing new information; that makes trying to predict what’s going to happen tomorrow or what’s coming around the corner impossible to do.”

What should we do about low interest rates?

Another hot topic is low interest rates. Short-term interest rates are influenced by the Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC. They were lowered in response to fears about the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low interest rates are great when you’re borrowing, which is part of the reason why the housing market is behaving like it is. On the other hand, they’re not as great when you’re trying to take advantage of compounding interest in a savings account or CD.

As part of a well-rounded investment portfolio, we usually recommend some portion to be set aside as “safe money.” This money is there to serve as cash when you need it, but it can be frustrating if it’s not earning anything extra, like many people are experiencing right now because of the low interest rates.

“The part of the money that is meant to be there when you need it should be treated very differently than the part that is there to grow,” Lehman said. “Hold your nose at the low interest rates you’re getting, and just remember that that’s there for a very particular reason; it has a very particular role in an investment portfolio. Oftentimes, in addition to being there when you need it, the other role is to offset the volatility that we often see in the stock market on the stock side of the portfolio.”

What about cryptocurrency?

Depending on where you’re at on the finance scene, you may know a lot about cryptocurrency, or you may know very little. Cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that involves a computer technology called blockchain. You can do your own research on how it works, but there are some cryptocurrencies that have made headlines lately, such as Bitcoin and Dogecoin. Following Lehman’s advice, it’s likely another case of knowing the difference between news and noise.

“There’s an awful lot of just pure speculation that’s going on,” he said. “The founder of Dimensional, David Booth, was being interviewed, and he was asked about Bitcoin and is it a bubble and all of those things. His response was ‘It doesn’t have anything on which you can value it. There’s no future earnings stream that you can look at and then compare it to whatever other fundamentals you want: price, the value of the company or anything like that.’ It doesn’t have anything that you can sort of evaluate its long-term worth. Which means – almost by definition – we’re just speculating that that’s going to be ‘the one.’ ”

Separating news from noise

With the roller coaster of a year we’ve had, it can be hard to be sure that what you’re doing is the right thing when it comes to your finances. Lehman’s advice? Turn off the TV, and work with a financial advisor. Their job is to give you the peace of mind that you’re on the right track but also help you connect the dots in your overall financial well-being, from life insurance to changing tax laws.

Our team at First National Wealth Management is passionate about helping people navigate their finances in a world that’s always changing. To start an initial conversation with us, send us a note through our website. We’d love to work with you.

Any comments, insights, or strategies discussed in this article are intended to be general in nature and, therefore, may not be suitable for you and your situation, whatever that may be. Before acting on anything written here, please consult with your attorney, CPA and/or your financial advisor.