8 Truths that Make the Case for Remaining Fully Invested

Capital markets have been on a rocky ride in 2022. A perfect storm of rising inflation, an uncertain outlook for economic growth, and geopolitical turmoil has upended equity markets (and most other asset classes). Some investors began asking themselves — is it time to sell assets?

Over the past decade, investors may have asked this same question for a very different reason. Through most of the 2010s, US equities hit one high after another, with valuations generally staying above their 25-year average. Faced with an aging but still climbing bull market, many investors struggled against the well-established “disposition effect” — the urge to sell assets at a “high” to lock in gains.

Conversely, when markets fall, investors wonder whether they should sell stocks to guard against possible future losses.

Whether you are apt to be more cautious when stocks are high or when they are low, we strongly recommend against selling any assets or making changes to your wealth plan based on emotion or short-term market conditions. Rather, take a deep breath and lean on your trusted family advisor to make sense of market dynamics and keep you on the path leading to your long-term goals.

Here are some truths that support staying fully invested that may help you withstand the urge to sell when the future appears uncertain.

1. A falling market will eventually rise

Pessimists focus on the maxim that what goes up must come down. Markets tell us the reverse is just as likely: a bull market follows every bear. Stocks have unfailingly resumed an upward trend after every period of falling prices. Consider that those who remained fully invested through the historically long bull market of the 2010s enjoyed exceptional returns while those who nervously waited for a buying opportunity missed out.

2. Anchoring to recent experiences can be detrimental

When looking toward the future, there’s a natural tendency to assume that current trends — good or bad — will continue. Similarly, we sometimes give greater weight to recent events when making decisions. These tendencies lead to less-than-ideal choices. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a substantial equity decline in March 2020. Emotional investors sold at the bottom of the dip, locking in losses, and then took far too long to reenter the market. By August 2020, stocks had fully recovered and subsequently delivered substantial gains. Investors who anchored themselves to events at the beginning of the pandemic suffered significant damage.

3. Anecdotes and emotional stories are not useful indicators

Multiple major market corrections have occurred in the past two decades, from the dot-com bubble in 2000 to the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic pause, with lesser fumbles in 2011, 2015, and 2017. Internalizing jitters based on news stories, social media, or dinner party conversations may cause investors to act on emotion. Instead, tune out the noise and look to history as a guide. Long-term equity data tells us unequivocally to stay in the market, especially through downturns.

4. Market timing does not work

No one can predict when the market will stop going up or down. No one can predict when the market will go up or when it will go down. Every new high could be the top and every new low could be the bottom. Historically, markets have found their bottom ahead of other indicators; stocks can start trending higher even though economic data continue to decline. This phenomenon makes it very difficult to time a reentry and usually means missing a substantial portion of the upswing. By the time a rising trend is evident, investors are jumping back into the market at a price higher than where they sold. The chart above illustrates a fundamental principle of successful capital growth: you must be fully invested to fully benefit from equity appreciation over time. Missing just the five best market days over 25 years can significantly reduce your return.