Information Overload

It is never an easy task to try and find the most pertinent information to pass along to my readers.

There is a constant barrage of loud headlines fighting for attention, most of these focus on very short-term issues:

In the financial media:

1. Greece's future in the Euro zone.
2. When will the Fed begin to raise interest rates?
3. Corporate Earnings results (for last quarter).
4. Consumer confidence.
5. The state of the housing market.
6. RRSP or TFSA?
7. Oil prices.
8. Deflation.
9. Russia and the Ukraine.
10. Financial market volatility.
11. Global economic growth.
12. Climate change.

It is hard to get through the noise:

It is true that some of these issues may have an impact on the long-term , but it is also important not to get paralyzed by the uncertainty that surrounds us.

Many folks that I talk to can find themselves so full of uncertainty that they have difficulty make important decisions that can and may be significant for their future.

We all want to be protected from uncertainty and volatility. It is human nature.

However, when it comes to managing our wealth, we need to continue to move forward, we must always be working toward an end result. 

Finding a way to keep working toward our goals despite the  current levels of uncertainty can be accomplished with solid investment planning:

1. Balanced asset allocation.
2. Diversification across many different geographical and economic sectors.

This investment style will under-perform when equity markets are strong, but it will out-perform when they are weak. It will help keep volatility to a minimum when uncertainty is high.

It will also provide confidence that will help you to overcome the paralysis that comes with being bombarded by too much information.

The views expressed are those of the author, Scott Tomenson, a Raymond James Financial Advisor, and not necessarily those of Raymond James Ltd. It is provided as a general source of information only and should not be considered to be personal investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell securities. Investors considering any investment should consult with their Investment Advisor to ensure that it is suitable for the investor's circumstances and risk tolerance before making any investment decision. The information contained in this blog was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete. Raymond James Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.