Links and Resources:
- Keep Your Eye on the Owner, Not the Dog - A 150 Year History
- Invest in the Long Term, by Jeff Buchbinder, Chief Equity Strategist
Important Disclosures:
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. The economic forecasts set forth in this material may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P500) is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.
Transcript:
“In an uncertain world, what can we be sure of? When Solomon was given the chance to ask God for anything, he asked for wisdom. And in all his wisdom, he concluded in Ecclesiastes: ‘There is nothing new under the sun.
LPL Research reports that going back to 1980, the market on average corrects once a year (a drop of 10-19%) and has still achieved a 13% annualized return including dividends (Source: LPL Research referencing S&P 500. All data is from FactSet as of March 11, 2025.)
Bottom line? Markets rise, markets fall. Headlines create fear. But as believers, we are called to something greater—trusting God and stewarding wisely.
So, what about tariffs? Inflation? Uncertainty? The Serenity Prayer reminds us: ‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. The market doesn’t like uncertainty and change, and neither do human beings. It is painful to watch the increased volatility as the market hammers out what this all means for the future health of economy. The fact that there are so many differing views on this helps explain the current back-and-forth in the markets.
When it comes to investing, wisdom tells us to take a long-term perspective. Randy Alcorn puts it beautifully in The Treasure Principle: ‘Live for the line, not the dot.’ If eternity is the line, then investing in God’s people and kingdom has lasting value. But we also have responsibilities here—providing for our families and stewarding resources well.
That means taking action, not hiding in fear. The servant who buried his talent received a harsh rebuke from the Lord. Instead, we are called to seek a reasonable return based on each family’s individual needs and objectives.
So, what can we do? Here are five principles within our control:
1.Spend less than you earn.
2.Avoid unnecessary debt.
3.Maintain liquidity.
4.Think long-term with your investments
5.Be generous—because giving is an investment in eternity.
See video link to a helpful educational video summarizing the last 150 years in the markets "Keep Your Eye on the Owner, Not the Dog" -- truly a long-term perspective. It’s also got a cute dog in the video, and I hope you watch it. Also listed below is a research blog by LPL Financial’s Chief Equity Strategist titled “Invest in the Long Term” if you want to take a deeper dive.