Goals goals and more goals!

I am an avid football fan. So when it comes to goals, usually the first thing that comes to mind is the net bulging when the ball hits it! And it is a nice feeling when the team you are supporting scores the goal. 

When it comes to setting goals in term of investments, I guess the rules are similar. You set the goalposts up and try to get the ball in between the posts and score. The wider the posts, the easier to score! 

For me, I try to strike a balance. Set the goalposts too wide by being too safe will probably bring average returns but at least the capital is safe! Narrow them too much and run the risk of not being able to score and compromise your capital. 

I am expecting 2024 to be tricky for the markets. 2023 was surprisingly great and upbeat with the market surpassing expectations so much so that those who took on risks in the correct sectors were well rewarded. After such heady gains and approaching all time highs, steady heads are probably needed. Momentum is still on the bulls' side and FOMO is still pretty much alive. I believe the market will be bought up on the next dip (pull back has probably started already!). 

How fast the market bottoms on this pullback will tell us how determined the bulls are and how many bulls are waiting at the sidelines to enter as well as the resolve of the bears. Have the bears given up already? If they have, this pullback might be brief and the market might have another strong rally upwards to challenge the highs. 

But that is where the risks are. When the bulls are declaring victory and the bears nowhere to be found is when I get wary. My goal is to protect capital so as to survive in the market at the expense of possible gains for the earlier part of the year. I believe there will be better opportunities in the later part of the year when it will be a bit clearer as to the state of the economy as well as inflation and where the FOMC stands. 

Disclaimer: Please kindly do your own due diligence as this is a sharing article and in no means financial advise. I am just sharing my opinions and thoughts.

Thanks for reading my commentary. Hope it helps!

Stay safe! 😊