“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you.” - Stealers Wheel
I can feel the FOMO. I get it. But once the economy emerges post COVID-19, we still need to accept the cycle. While it is possible, it is not probable that the stock market goes back to business as usual. While it seems that most are either in the camp of this is going to be the Great Depression times two, or the camp of when we turn the lights on there is some mythical "pent-up" demand that drives everything forward. It is a bias we are all predisposed to amped by a narrative to reconfirm your bias. Think of it like a snake that is eating it's own tail. This is why I use data, not Wall Street Pinocchios.
The stock market eventually responds to the business cycle. The business cycle slowdown was well underway before the China virus. And pssst... here is another secret... (said in a hushed tone) all those tech names you've been buying all the way up pre-virus, will bleed your portfolio dry during this down cycle. The attached graphic of the 2000-2002 tech bubble is a reminder of how things can play out. Be prepared for the range of potential outcomes. Do you NEED stocks to go up to reach your financial goals? If so, we need to talk.