Perspective: Blue Jays Magic = 1

Today is the end of the month and the 3rd Quarter and there is lots of volatility in financial markets.

However, we all need to take a deep breath because, for those of us who care (and I must admit that I jumped on the band wagon in early August), we are about to enter one of those very exciting times that don't come around too often.

From 1993 (October 23 to be exact), I have the greatest memory of sitting in the basement of my home in Port Washington, NY (north shore of Long Island and commuting distance to Manhattan) and watching Joe Carter leap around the bases after hitting the home run that gave the Blue Jays the second of back to back World Series titles. I yelled so loud that the new little puppy retriever watching with me yelped and left a wet spot on the carpet (my 3 daughters, 4, 6 and 8 were asleep, as it was a "school night").

The following day Jean Chretien and the Liberals took over the reigns of Canadian government from the long-ruling PC party with an elected majority.

Paul Martin took the helm of Canada's finances, which at the time had the highest debt to GDP ratio of the G7.

The Canadian economy collapsed as he set about to balance the budget.

The housing market in Canada was already well into a significant correction and this continued.

At the time things looked pretty grim.

But the budget got balanced, the economy recovered and markets continued to cycle up and cycle down (especially through the 2008-2009 period). 

Cycles happen and we do the best in the short-run to take advantage of the opportunities that they present. In the long-run, however, what remains are the memories and the cycles continue.

So make a plan, stick to the plan, tweak it as necessary along the way (happy to help you out in this department, by the way) and build up your good memories and don't get hung-up on what is happening yesterday, today and tomorrow in financial markets, because in the long run you are not likely to remember it.

But if the Blue Jays are successful (and that is important to you), that you will remember!