The Lowry Letter®

We continue to be in a fluid and challenging environment. Among the greatest challenges is how difficult it has become to escape- to the movies, away for a weekend trip, or even to a restaurant with friends and family.

It is more important than ever to care for your whole self, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

We continue to maintain normal operating hours. Unless necessary, we recommend holding meetings via video conference or by telephone and are happy to schedule the time to discuss any concerns you may have.

In the event our operations are interrupted, or our phone systems are down, time-sensitive requests can be made by calling Commonwealth at 877-347-1982. Simply mention that you are a client whose advisor is affiliated with Commonwealth.

We have some important information to share in this week’s Lowry Letter®. Many times we have expressed the importance of focusing on the things that we can control. This means how much we spend, save, and (for most of us) how long we work. It means building an appropriate reserve and managing debt.

A tumultuous period continues as uncertainty about COVID-19 rules the headlines. Our feelings remain the same as last week and we are happy to discuss this further with any of you.

The February 2020 market commentary is available at this link

We’re going to focus this week on the key issue on many minds- the recent market declines due in large part to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We are very happy to congratulate our own Nicole Hadley on her marriage to Brent Cothern! The happy couple was married last Saturday. 

The coronavirus continues to be a leading cause of concern. The long-term effect on the market remains to be seen, and we said a few weeks ago, it is time to pay attention, not panic

This week’s edition brings a few helpful items on the current investment climate, as well as some non-financial topics. We hope you enjoy it!

February marks the 128^th consecutive month of economic expansion in the United States (National Bureau of Economic Research). Many economists think that economic growth will continue, but at a slower pace.
 

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, what is happening in the world is important, but not as critical as what is happening in your personal economy. Making sure that your resources are aligned with your goals and situation is the most important task.

We hope you find the January Market Update to be helpful.

The big news of late is the coronavirus affecting (mostly) mainland China, specifically Wuhan. It has had some impact of late on the markets, but we agree with our friend Brad McMillan who advises, “Pay attention, don’t worry.”  

The first month of the 20’s comes to an end this week! While the year has started on a quiet note for the markets, we remain focused on the following when we meet with clients:

• What are your specific goals, and how can your resources be directed in the service of those aims?

This is ultimately more important than what the economy or markets are doing at the time, though a relationship exists

This week’s edition is devoted to the SECURE Act, so we have tweaked the format a bit to cover some of the most important things.