Why Beating the S&P 500 is the Wrong Goal
How you perform against one index bears little on your financial well-being
Study after study has shown that beating the S&P 500 over the long-term is nearly impossible. Yet, nearly every time I meet with a new investor, they ask the question, “How have you done against the market (S&P 500)?”
My reply is generally something along the lines of “is that what you’re looking for?” and their answer is either a look of confusion or a resounding “yes.”
However, in further conversation, investors come to understand that this is the wrong question. It inevitably will lead them down a path of failed expectations and missed goals.
Beating the S&P 500 sounds great, but it does little to help investors gain peace of mind. Moreover, it may also be impractical and require taking on risks that are unacceptable to you.
What are Your Goals?
You don’t have to look back far, 2008-09 is not that long ago. If your portfolio lost 35% in 2008 and gained 3% in 2011, you beat the S&P in both years. Fast forward to 2018 – if your portfolio lost 5%, you beat the S&P 500. So what?
None of those seem like attractive returns to me.
My point is simply that benchmarking your goals and expectations to the S&P 500 or any other one index is silly and impractical.
Instead of heedlessly chasing the S&P 500, investors should:
- Take account of their goals.
- Evaluate the costs associated with reaching those goals.
- Task their investment adviser with developing a plan that is likely to achieve those goals with the least amount of risk possible.
Be Relevant
Nowhere is relative benchmarking more prevalent and more irrelevant than in investing. How you perform against the S&P 500 bears little on your financial well-being.
If you are in retirement and have a properly structured portfolio, you probably underperformed the S&P 500 in 2021 and maybe have outperformed YTD so far in 2022. Big deal.
The S&P 500 is not trying to accomplish with its money what you try to accomplish with yours.
✅ BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TODAY: https://calendly.com/tdwealth
===========================================================
🔴 SEE ALL OUR LATEST BLOG POSTS: https://tdwealth.net/articles
If you like the content, smash that like button! It tells YouTube you were here, and the Youtube algorithm will show the video to others who may be interested in content like this. So, please hit that LIKE button!💥
🎯🎯🎯Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmBYECKIzlEBFDDDBu-UIg
✅ Contact me: TDavies@TDWealth.Net
🔥🔥🔥 ====== ===Get Our FREE GUIDES ========== 🔥🔥🔥
🎯Retirement Income: The Transition into Retirement: https://davieswealth.tdwealth.net/retirement-income-transition-into-retirement
🎯Beginner’s Guide to Investing Basics: https://davieswealth.tdwealth.net/investing-basics
✅ LET’S GET SOCIAL
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaviesWealthManagement
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TDWealthNet
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviesrthomas
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TdwealthNetWealthManagement
Lat and Long
27.17404889406371, -80.24410438798957
Davies Wealth Management
684 SE Monterey Road
Stuart, FL 34994
772-210-4031
DISCLAIMER
**Davies Wealth Management makes content available as a service to its clients and other visitors, to be used for informational purposes only. Davies Wealth Management provides accurate and timely information, however you should always consult with a retirement, tax, or legal professionals prior to taking any action.
Leave a Reply