This is the Q4 and yearly review for stocks and bonds in 2023. You can watch a video review of this blog here. And go here to see the complete market review slide deck shown in the video. What a difference a year makes, or really two months. Last year when I did this review, I mentioned that I “typically put up a graphic showing how major markets faired over the year, but who wants to see a bunch of big red down arrows?” Well, good news, and I know you know this, it’s a bunch of green arrows now. Take a look at slide 3.

So we see green arrows for the year of 2023, but really all that great growth to dig us out of the hole that 2022 left us in came in the last two months of the year. I always preach that markets move quickly – to the up- and downside – so you must stay invested every single day. Did you, or did you get out at some point and miss that November / December rally?

Take a look at the next slide, slide 4. Let’s take a longer look at markets with our next slide here. I like what I see, and I know you do, too. But let’s think about this for a bit and break it down.

You know day-to-day market movements can feel like a Sunday drive in the country…aimless with no purpose and no idea when it’s going to end. But stock ownership will get us home (and that home is retirement) because, over time, stocks track the general performance of the economy. And overall, performance of the economy will continue to be good, we just have to endure the potholes and bumps in the road along the way. 2022 was a giant pothole and most of ’23 was a bumpy road, but let’s not lose sight of the entire pleasant drive. If you have any questions, if investing worries you, reach out to me.