☕ Decisions you make today will impact your wealth for decades – so make good ones!

Good morning! 👋 

SOSDD. 

Same old story, different day. 

Google blew the doors off earnings last night with a double beat – meaning that the company beat both top and bottom-line estimates – as I thought might be the case when the super sharp Maria Bartiromo asked me about that yesterday ahead of earnings. (Watch) 

Shares are down this morning anyway in a repeat of other big tech names this season. 

Time to panic? 

A lot of people are, but no. 

You have two choices right now 

1. You can run around like a chicken with your head cut off and obsess over things you can’t control, play the blame game, get snarky etc; or, 
2. You can pay attention to what you can control… like owning great companies, using the right tactics to control risk, reinvesting and so on to build your wealth. a.k.a. the stuff that really matters. 

You’ve heard me say a thousand times over that chaos produces opportunity and that the more of the former there is, the more of the latter you have. 

We’re simply living through one of those times now. 

As bad as that may feel short term, history presents a very different picture longer term. 

Take a hard look at the following chart. 

The markets have a very defined upward bias over time… it just doesn’t feel that way at moments in time. 

If you sell because you need to for whatever reason, fine… do that and don’t look back. Nobody will hold that against you, least of all me. 

But if you sell because you’re scared, uncomfortable or uncertain, that’s a) your emotions talking and b) on you. 

The smartest investors are undoubtedly buying into the chaos. 

Some, we know about… like Cathie Wood who snapped up 35,766 shares of Tesla and 141,108 shares of AMD. (Read) 

Vanguard and BlackRock are adding to the Mag7 according to recent filings. 

Bill Ackman, Citadel, Millennium and Point 72 remain heavily in tech, particularly AI infrastructure and specific cyclicals. 

Others we don’t know about yet but will shortly. 

It’s the same script every time. 

Individual investors panic but smart money – meaning the world’s most successful investors – go shopping. That inevitably shows up in the SEC filings after each big dip. 

Something else. 

I’m seeing loads of people make decisions right now that they will almost certainly regret. 

I don’t want you to be one of ‘em. 

It’s important to remember that wealth isn’t built overnight but one step at a time over time.  

This isn’t our first rodeo. 

I told you very specifically in TV interviews, right here in the 5 with Fitz and in the One Bar Ahead® January outlook that I expected more volatility than usual the first half of this year so what’s happening shouldn’t be a surprise. 

And if it is a surprise? 

It is NOT too late to get on track even if there’s more selling to come. 

I want you to do three things. 

First, take a hard look at this chart. 

Second, take a hard look in the mirror. 

The path to profits always starts with the person looking back at you. 

Getting him or her under control is priority #1. 

It’s easier than you’d think. 

And third, re-read something I penned recently, 5 time-tested rules I live by when the markets drop. 

Investing decisions that you make today will impact your wealth for decades. So make ‘em good decisions! 

And if you’d like some help navigating this mess? 

You may enjoy One Bar Ahead®. People tell me that it’s changed their outlook, their lives and their financial future. Most importantly, it’s given ‘em a sense of calm confidence while others panic. Young or old, a little money or a lot, starting early or catching up late doesn’t matter. Building wealth is a journey best taken together. I’ll be here if you need me. 

Bottom Line 

If you are not investing when the chips are down, you will not be ahead of the game when they’re up. 

Now and as always, let’s MAKE it a great day. 

You got this – I promise! 

Keith 😀 

PS: Keep an eye on your email if you’re an OBAer; the February issue publishes tomorrow, assuming we’ve got enough coffee and there really are 36 hours in the next 24. I’ve got a deeper dive into a recent recommendation that I’m very excited about, the latest portfolio review and a new graphic that makes it abundantly clear why one of our dividend selections continues to be a bastion of safety in rough seas. 🎯