3 New Year’s Resolutions An ETF Investor Can Keep

The first Monday after the New Year’s celebration is unofficially known as, “Blue Monday.” Apparently, media outlets are crediting a United Kingdom purveyor of protein drinks with coming up with a name for the most depressing day of the year. Granted, it may sound as though I am making this up or perhaps pulling it from an episode of the television series, “The Incredibly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.” Nevertheless, there seems to be support for the notion that we are particularly depressed on the initial day of the first full week back to work after the holidays.

Upbeat Drinks claims that its proprietary ‘Upbeat Barometer’ analyzed over two million tweets to make the determination. I’m skeptical. Then again, a number of cold weather football fans (e.g., Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Green Bay, etc,) are simultaneously dealing with frigid temperatures, bitter defeat and having to make good on those lofty resolutions. (Note: I myself have already found it exceptionally challenging to meet the 10,000 step goal on the “Fitbit” that I received for Christmas.)

Of course, some resolutions and goals are much harder than others. Here are 3 investing goals that ETF enthusiasts should be able achieve in 2014:

1. Stop the Bleeding. “Hold-n-hope” advocates and “buy-low wannabes” predictably malign my approach during the height of bullishness in equities. Have you ever noticed how these people disappear during panics, crises and/or collapses? When you hold, you have no control over the outcome over your investment(s)… you’re hoping that the markets will come back. Ask dot-com NASDAQ investors about the 14 years that they are still waiting to break even. Meanwhile, deep discount value types need look no further than Bill Miller, formerly of Legg Mason Value fame. It only takes one bad call to ruin it all.

There are alternatives, of course. My approach for the last 25 years has been to control what one can control. Lower the total portfolio costs, increase the total portfolio yield without “chasing yield,” and secure each investment outcome. There are only four: (1) a big gain, (2) a small gain, (3) a small loss, (4) a big loss. It’s worth noting that managing risk in investing — like insurance — boils down to a willingness to pay the premium (i.e., a small loss) to avoid a disaster (i.e., a big loss). Mathematically, you will spend far too much time trying to recover from bearish calamities like the ones experienced in 1929, 1930-1932, 1937-1938, 1939-1942, 1946-1947, 1961-1962, 1968-1970, 1973-1974, 1981-82, 1987, 1990, 2000-0002, 2007-09, 2011, etc.

Keep in mind, I am the furthest thing from a doom-n-gloomer. I participate in market-based investing with a recognition that long-term success requires a plan for knowing the circumstances under which I might reduce exposure to an asset or asset class. It follows that — if you want to stop a trickle of blood from becoming a death blow to your jugular — determine how you will use stop-limit loss orders, trendlines, put options and/or inversely correlated assets to insure your success. At what point in 2011, 2012 or 2013 could you have limited or eliminated the drag of the SPDR Gold Trust (SPDR)?

2. Think Globally. A great many ETF investors have lost faith in international stocks, bonds and currencies. Perhaps ironically, the “lost decade” for stocks was a U.S. phenomenon from 2000-2009. Since 2010, however, the U.S. has been on a phenomenal outperformance streak that has left many feeling queasy about developed stocks in Europe and Japan as well as emerging equities in China and Latin America. The S&P 500 SPDR Trust (SPY) has cremated the competition, including Vanguard Europe (VGK), iShares Japan (EWJ) and Vanguard Emerging Markets (VWO).

It’s not just stocks either. Federal Reserve tapering uncertainty may have led to a total return loss of -2% for iShares Total U.S. Bond Market (AGG) in 2013, but investors fled many foreign bond possibilities as well. SPDR Barclay International Government Bond (BWX), PowerShares Emerging Market Sovereign (PCY) and Market Vectors Emerging Market Local Currency (EMLC) coughed up -3.6%, -10.3% and -10.4% respectively.

Recent performance concerns notwithstanding, history demonstrates that country leadership tends to shift. The probability that Europe will need to take additional stimulus measures to keep its “preserve the euro” pledge should stimulate demand for “cheaper” European equities. Moreover, investments like iShares EAFE Small Cap (SCZ) demonstrate definitive stock uptrends. On the income side of the ledger, SPDR Barclays International Corporate Bond (IBND) has charted a favorable course since September.


3. Question Common Sense. The one thing that never fails to fascinate me is the ability for certain industries to defy the so-called odds. For example, our country has been unwilling to fully embrace natural gas as a clean energy resource, even in a transitional sense. Environmental concerns place restrictions on pipelines as well as drilling, while fears of rising prices lead officials to restrict exporting. One might surmise that hits to profitability in the sector might coincide with share price concerns. And yet, natural gas companies via First Trust Revere ISE Natural Gas (FCG) remains in demand.

In another example, trouble with both Obamacare sign-ups as well as support for the law itself would seem to cause uncertainty for health care companies. Add to the mix an onerous tax on medical device makers and you might think twice about investing in iShares Medical Devices (IHI). Perhaps you shouldn’t. The fund hit a new all-time high on “Blue Monday.”


Disclosure: Gary Gordon, MS, CFP is the president of Pacific Park Financial, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser with the SEC. Gary Gordon, Pacific Park Financial, Inc, and/or its clients may hold positions in the ETFs, mutual funds, and/or any investment asset mentioned above. The commentary does not constitute individualized investment advice. The opinions offered herein are not personalized recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities. At times, issuers of exchange-traded products compensate Pacific Park Financial, Inc. or its subsidiaries for advertising at the ETF Expert web site. ETF Expert content is created independently of any advertising relationships.