By Lee Sherbakoff, CPA/PFS, CFP®, RICP®
The moment has arrived for us to finally leave 2020 behind. In addition to a global pandemic, the world experienced a number of other extraordinary events in 2020. Wildfires ravaged the globe from Australia to North America. Saturn and Jupiter aligned to create an iconic “Christmas Star” in December. And murder hornets somehow made their way from Asia to the United States.
With all that occurred in perhaps one of the most tumultuous years in history, we are more than ready to say hello to 2021. The beginning of the new year is a time to celebrate the chance for a fresh start and set goals for the next 12 months. With that in mind, we wanted to write a short note to you, our resilient clients, and let you know that we’re ready and excited to take on the coming year.
A Note About Portfolios
2020 was a hard year for many of us. Whether you experienced illness, the loss of a loved one, loss of income, or struggled with mental health, we all had to adapt to new and unfamiliar changes, none of which were particularly fun. But the fact that we have welcomed the new year reminds us that we are resilient and will continue pressing forward.
We want to remind and reassure you that your portfolio is and will continue to be driven by your unique financial plan. No matter the short-term circumstances, your long-term goals and objectives remain the underlying foundation for your portfolio. And if your circumstances have changed, don’t hesitate to reach out to us so we can discuss how best to readjust and take advantage of opportunities in 2021.
Don’t Let Market Volatility Get You Down
With that being said, remember that markets are volatile in the short term. They move up and down unpredictably and with no regard for the emotional turmoil they cause. And although we’ve seen a strong recovery in the markets since the downturn in March, we should keep in mind that we may still see some disturbance in the months to come.
We encourage you to remain calm if we do experience additional market volatility. We are more than happy to discuss your anxieties and adjust your financial plan if needed. As with all crises, we are confident that this too shall pass.
Your Portfolio Takes Market Volatility into Account
Our team has a combined 60 years of investment experience, so we know that markets historically have always recovered after a downturn. From our experience, we believe that timing the market is not a successful strategy and can be very costly in the long run. Therefore, your portfolio is built to withstand market instability and capitalize on long term gains that are subsequent to market declines.
We have customized your financial plan to your long-term goals, your changing circumstances, and your unique values, all of which last longer than an unstable market. We remain optimistic that markets will rise despite global pandemics and other disturbances.
How We Help
At The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, we provide comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management. We create and update your portfolio based on your long-term goals as well as your changing life circumstances. If you have experienced any changes over the past year, please call us at (865) 691-0898 or contact us online to discuss your options. We are here for you.
About Lee
Lee Sherbakoff is principal and financial advisor with The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, LLC, an independent, fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. He specializes in serving pre-retirees and retirees, helping them create and execute financial plans and retirement income plans that lead to sustainable long-term, real-life returns that meet their deepest and most important financial goals and objectives. Lee has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The University of Tennessee and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College as well as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) credentials. Lee spent over 31 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, including serving at the Army’s highest levels on the Department of Army staff at the Pentagon and being deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm (1991) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-2009). When he’s not loyally serving his clients, Lee enjoys giving back to the community and to his profession, acting as a council member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and a member of the American Institute of CPAs. In addition, he is past President of the Knoxville Chapter of Tennessee Society of CPAs and past President of the East Tennessee chapter of the Financial Planning Association. To learn more about Lee, connect with him on LinkedIn.
DISCLOSURES: The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product, and should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice. The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, LLC makes no warranties with regard to the information or results obtained by third parties and its use and disclaim any liability arising out of, or reliance on the information. These indexes reflect investments for a limited period of time and do not reflect performance in different economic or market cycles and are not intended to reflect the actual outcomes of any client of The Nalls Sherbakoff Group, LLC. Past performance does not guarantee future results.