Not really.  The most I’ve seen are people being skeptical that the returns on their statements are actually real.

Of course, they get a statement from me, and a statement from Fidelity, so they will call Fidelity up and verify with them.  But it gets a little old after a while. 

Their “friends” are all “losing money”.  So they don’t see how it is possible that they aren’t.

I have never seen so many people procrastinate and not return phone calls and emails…and these are clients as well as prospects.

Yup…

Many of my clients are very conservatively allocated (only hold high quality bonds and have invested this way for many, many years).  Their main concern right now is interest rate and credit risk.  

My clients that hold equities seem like they have gotten a bit complacent.  They seem to think the worst is over.  I don’t subscribe to that view, so I have to constantly remind them that things may get worse.  Got some pushback from a few clients in November and December when I suggested taking profits and playing defensive.  They wanted to stay long.  Convinced them it made sense and these clients are now coming around to the fact that taking risk off the table in this environment might have been a good idea.  

I haven’t had a single client ask to get completely out of equities.  I also haven’t had anything near the kinds of terrified, deer-in-the-headlights conversations I had in '08. 

The only reason my phone rings these days is because some client wants their 1099.  Or they need cash. 

I hear how bad the economy is doing everyday.  I don't think prospects realize the market has rallied 70% from the March lows.  A lot of people don't believe the positive economic data.  I've also noticed prospects start returning phone calls and get interested after the market goes through a nice bull run without any negative headlines.  Around Jan. 19th my phone was ringing off the hook and had I had walk ins.

Stock is a funny think, it is the only thing (that I know of) that is harder to sell when it is on sale, and easier to sell when is it is selling at a premium.

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As my grandfather use to say, bear markets move stock, from weak hands to there true owner’s hands.

We are in such a weird market environment when you think about it.  Many of the corporate earnings and forecasts are positive and they expect growth.  U.S. and world GDP is also expected to increase and not just minimally. 

[quote=JackBlack] <P style=“MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt” =Msonormal>Stock is a funny think, it is the only thing (that I know of) that is harder to sell when it is on sale, and easier to sell when is it is selling at a premium.

Ms. Twain:

[quote=JackBlack]

Stock is a funny think, it is the only thing (that I know of) that is harder to sell when it is on sale, and easier to sell when is it is selling at a premium.

<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

As my grandfather use to say, bear markets move stock, from weak hands to there true owner’s hands.

[quote=howboutshoeshine][quote=JackBlack]

Stock is a funny think, it is the only thing (that I know of) that is harder to sell when it is on sale, and easier to sell when is it is selling at a premium.

<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

As my grandfather use to say, bear markets move stock, from weak hands to there true owner’s hands.

The general public does not feel good right now.  Many folks have faced rough periods before, but never felt our country was out of control.  The last 18 months have forced people to question many of their beliefs and they are scared of the future.  Americans, generally always optimistic may for the first believe our best days are behind.

Many know friends who have lost jobs.  Every town has lost major manufactors.  Few can see where jobs will come from in the future.  There is absolutely zero leadership (beside us) that portray positive things ahead.  As they turn to televison news for clarification, it scares them further.  Never before have so many Americans so closely watched their Gov’t in operation, and its unsettling.

Many clients have become complacent as statement values have increased every month since last March (ex Jan 2010)  All of my clients are very open to my guidance.  However I have noticed some of the smartest business people I know are frozen in cash.  They don’t get it right now and are scared of all uncertain messages coming from Washington.

So the general public has been buying bond funds at historic low interest rates for stability /safety.  Stocks trading at very modest forward PE’s are ignored. 

Fast forward, as economy slowly comes around & people begin to feel better, more will shift to equities.  When everyone feels great again and PE return to avg. or above avg, PE the public will shift back into equities toward the next peak. 

Weird thing; what has been historically safe Gov’ts &  muni’s are the entities that are deeper and deeper in debt.  What says CA, IL, NJ, MI can pay back the money they keep borrowing?  So who has cash on hand & doesn’t need to borrow?  Check your list of boring blue chips - 2-3% dividends, consistent increases and good upside.  I’m a buyer; quality stocks, Int’l funds, Emer Mkts.  It will be a more difficult year, but will surprise to the upside. 

[quote=howboutshoeshine]





It’s a question Shania



[/quote]



(All we do is accounts run by us discretionary)



We fight like mad to keep people in, in sell offs.



4 said “No mas” in march.   



"get me out. i dont want to hear anymore of your BS.   

Fukc you. sell it now"



kept accounts. dust settled. got them back in with much more conservative allocation.   learned new piece to their financial puzzle: they cant handle the risk they said they could



had 2 recently just bail from stocks.   (new phenomomon-interesting). more or less "if I ever get back to X amount-I’m done)

I hate stocks.   I have not made money in 10 years.

im buying real estate , paying off debt- whatever.

thanks for the memories.

It’s not you love ya I’ll be back blah blah blah



NEVER have had people bail like this :



"stocks dont make money ever"



We try very, very hard to set low expectations when we open accounts.    



Pretty rough for newer 06,07 accounts when your down 15-40 MF % right out of gate.

Some of those Envisions that we ran just said “TILT”. We never give up trying to get people to focus on long haul.   



This biz aint easy.    

Thats why you can make as much as a heart surgeon.



The more people tell me how much they hate stocks…the more bullish I get…supply and demand

It seems Shania…that you also have had very few bail? Correct me if I’m wrong. I think that more attrition of the weak hands, in order for the rally to continue. that means another fall.

-shoeshine = broken clock…right twice a day.  Always bearish means 1 of 4 years you’re right, 3 out of 4 wrong.  What a way to live life, glass half empty.

Well, lets see...the Gov't is trying to ram trillions of dollars of new debt onto the clients backs.  Most know of friends or family who have permanently lost positions they've held for years, with great pay and benefits.  Too much consumer debt, no budgeting, overweight...coldest winter in a long time...etc..etc...etc.

[quote=bspears]

Well, lets see…the Gov’t is trying to ram trillions of dollars of new debt onto the clients backs. Most know of friends or family who have permanently lost positions they’ve held for years, with great pay and benefits. Too much consumer debt, no budgeting, overweight…coldest winter in a long time…etc…etc…etc.