Financial Wellness

Are You Misjudging Risk?

In the book Freakonomics, the author points out that we often misjudge risk—not because we lack information, but because our emotions and personal experiences cloud our thinking. Fear can overtake logic.

The same is true when it comes to investing. Market volatility can feel unsettling, making it seem like standing still is the most dangerous move. But when we zoom out and look at history, we see a different story—just like Dylan shared in last week’s video:

  • On average, the market experiences a 14% drop each year.

  • As of today, April 4th, the S&P 500 is down about 8% for the year—with 5% of that decline happening just yesterday, April 3rd.

 

Despite the noise, market cycles remain consistent:

  • It may feel different this time, but it isn’t.

  • The headlines may change, but history repeats itself.

 

📺 Catch Dylan’s video here if you missed it.

🎥 Click the video above to watch this week’s message.

 

As always, if you have questions or want to talk through your investment strategy, we’re here to help.

Why Market Dips Don’t Mean Disaster

With all the recent market ups and downs, it’s easy to feel uneasy. But before you let the headlines stress you out, let’s put things into perspective.

In this video, we break down why market volatility is normal and why staying invested through the dips is key to long-term success. We’ll walk through a powerful chart that reveals a surprising truth:

📊 Even when the market dropped significantly, it still finished strong most of the time.
📊 Over the last 45 years, despite average intra-year drops of 14%+, the S&P 500 ended positive 3 out of 4 times!

The key takeaways?
✅ Volatility is normal.
✅ Dips are temporary.
✅ Sticking to your plan pays off.

🎥 Watch now & if you have concerns about your investments, we’re here to help—just reach out!

Are “Rules of Thumb” worth following?

In today’s video, we’re revisiting the 4% rule for retirement—a classic rule of thumb that’s making a comeback! The 4% rule suggests that you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement savings annually without depleting your nest egg. But is it truly a one-size-fits-all approach? Factors like inflation, risk tolerance, investment performance, and spending behaviors all play a role in determining whether this strategy works for your unique circumstances.

👉 Click play to learn how the 4% rule fits into modern retirement planning and how to tailor it to your financial goals!

This is the article I reference in the video: The 4% Rule for Retirement Is Back

Have we given you enough confidence in your financial future?

In this video, I address a common question I get asked: “What if this happens?”—whether it’s about market changes, elections, or unexpected shifts. These “what if” questions often stem from a place of uncertainty and anxiety about the future.  Here at Ross financial it is our hope that you feel like we have put your mind at ease about your financial future.  Here is our challenge for you: instead of asking, “What if this happens?” try shifting your perspective to, “Even though this is happening we’re going to be okay.”  If you don’t feel like you have the peace of mind that you need, please reach out to us so we can install that piece of mind that you deserve as clients of ours.

A strong financial foundation allows us to handle change with confidence. So, let’s start reframing our thinking to focus on resilience and security, no matter what the future holds.

Iron Sharpens Iron

In today’s video of Matt’s Minutes, Matt is taking a break from his usual market-related content and sharing some self-improvement videos over the next few weeks. Today he’s sharing a concept we all know well: Iron sharpens iron. Being part of the Chairman’s Council at Raymond James, which is the top 100 financial planners in the country, he was invited to an exclusive conference in New York City last week. The things that he learned and the people he met made the trip absolutely priceless. Click on the video above to watch the full video

This picture speaks volumes

Take a look at the picture we show in the video.  I think it’s probably the most simple visual of what it looks like for people who choose the easy road versus the hard road, and what their potential experience looks like once they’ve made that choice.   

Please share this message with those that you care about.

“Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.”Malcolm Gladwell

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