Am I Going to be Okay?

Worry is defined as a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. That’s the noun form of the word. I’d like to focus on the verb form, if I might, which is defined: to give way to anxiety or unease, to allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Anybody resemble that remark, as they say? [Billy raises his hand].  This may or may not come as a surprise, but my worry typically has little to do with the stock market.  

I worry more about things I’m less familiar with. How, for example, can I ensure my family remains safe through a global pandemic? Not only for their physical well-being, but from the effects of isolation from friends and teammates to media-driven fear and hyperbole.  Wading through the psychological make up of teenagers can be challenging enough let alone during the last two years! Well, I’m still not sure how to address all of that, but my belief is that my family and my children are here, in this community, in the midst of all that’s going on, at the precise time they were appointed to be. And sometimes, when you don’t have all the answers, you seek wise counsel in conversation with a friend or mentor, or maybe in the pages of a book. (Or in my case, you do both…and often.)

And then you keep moving.

How are you faring through all of this? A recent study* by the American Psychiatric Association suggests that 40% of Americans were anxious about becoming seriously ill or dying from coronavirus and 62% were worried about the same for their loved ones. Bad thing about worrying is that it’s a slippery slope – things you may not otherwise worry about now have you on edge.  Ordinary and routine events may now become sources for worry. And left unchecked, worry can – for some – manifest physically and affect the way you feel even to the point where you live in a constant state of fear and dread.  All of this leaving us wrestling with this question:

Am I going to be okay?

As many of you can attest, numbers aren’t the only things CapSouth pays attention to. And quite frankly, they’re not even the most important.  Sure, there are certain numbers that are likely to be part of the conversation. Returns, Probability of Success, for some, 33-18, for others.  But out of context, they’re only numbers. What gives meaning to those numbers is the life you want to live and how you’re planning to get there. Or as you’ve heard us say, living your one best financial life. A lot of what’s going on in the world today I don’t even have a name for. At least not one suitable for this article. Quite a bit of what we see, read, and hear these days is certainly good for news stories. (Not that I always believe it’s newsworthy. That’s a topic for another day.) They do, however, generate viewership, readership and advertising.  And so, the machine churns. And in the process, the narrative causes uncertainty, concern, and for some, full-fledged worry.  And so that machine churns, also.  

As it relates to your financial plan, to your one best financial life, allow us to join the conversation if you feel yourself slipping toward worry. Is it okay to be concerned? Of course, and it’s prudent. Your retirement assets may likely be the single largest asset you’ll ever have.  Is it okay to be uncertain? Of course, and it’s unavoidable at times. The news cycles have and will forever generate short-term market movement.  We see this play out daily.  The market’s going to go up, sideways, or down.  Whether you watch it on TV or on your phone, or maybe choose to go for a walk with a loved one instead – it’s going to happen. All of which, quite likely, in the same day. That said, please allow us to help you filter through the noise and help keep it in context.  Not all of it matters, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

There are some pretty sharp individuals you have working on your behalf here at CapSouth. I’ve spent ten years of my life working with them. People I trust and depend on greatly. Not just because of how smart they may be or how hard they work for the benefit our clients, but because of the type of individuals they are. I may be preaching to the choir as some of you have been around CapSouth longer than I have. One of our values is to treat others the way we want to be treated. Maybe it’s a clarification of a news event? Maybe it’s a recap of your estate plan?  Or maybe it’s just having someone who’ll listen.

We’re here. How can we help?  Click here to Connect With Us

To discuss this article further or to learn more about CapSouth Wealth Management, visit our website at www.capsouthwm.com or call 800.929.1001 to schedule an appointment to speak with an advisor.

By:  Billy McCarthy, Wealth Manager

*New Poll: COVID-19 Impacting Mental Well-Being: Americans Feeling Anxious, Especially for Loved Ones; Older Adults are Less Anxious

American Psychiatric Association, May 25, 2020

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