It was an up-and-down year for markets—in the end, one with more down than up. The world gave financial markets a lot to process. 

Technology enables immediate access to everything wherever and whenever we want it. 

This has been a challenging year for investors. On top of the equity bear market, the steep losses in bonds1 have been especially surprising, leading some investors to question whether the classic 60/40 portfolio is dead. 

Many investors have likely heard the adage that active management performs better in times of market turbulence. 

 

When I was growing up, our local newspaper, the Kansas City Star, was full of news and had one page for opinion. After decades of cable news and nonstop digital postings, I see more opinions these days than news. 

Investors can focus on the daily rain clouds and sunshine the markets bring. Or they can think about the long term.