Cutting Through the Noise

July 22, 2020 02:06 PM By alex.locker

I originally wrote this in 2013, but came across it recently and realized how true it is, especially now.  Enjoy.


Chicago is a great city, especially during the summer.  It has a certain pace, a certain irresistible energy & charm.  After moving to a high-rise building downtown many years ago, I also discovered something else:  it has a certain sound.  From more than 20 floors above street level, I could hear cabs honking, buses, trains, and even conversations... the constant sound of activity that had nowhere to go but up and bounce off of steel, glass, & concrete.


When I would visit the city where I grew up, a few hours away, I would get out of my car and just notice that I wouldn't hear anything except wind in the trees & my thoughts.  No cars honking.  No random conversations.  No buses or trains.  It was... peaceful.

Today's financial environment sometimes reminds me of living in that high-rise.  "Experts" providing lots of noise; talking fast; talking over each other to make their point without listening; taking credit for all that is good, and "spinning" reasons for anything possibly construed as negative.  It's no wonder that investors have a lack of trust in financial institutions, advisors, and media, especially after what the US economy has gone through over the last decade.

What should you do to cut through the noise?  Consider these as a starting point.

  • Listen carefully. Many experts aren't really talking to you, about you, or even about someone like you.  They're talking about a thing - Stock of the Day, Fund of the Week, today's indicator, etc.  While these comments may be slightly informative, they lack the context of what it means to you.
  • Remember that you can only live your life. What is good for someone else may not be appropriate for you.  You'll hear more about someone's good decisions than their mistakes.
  • Watch out for articles that have a number in their headline ("The Top 6...", "The Best 7...", "8 Great Ways to...".). Including a number is good for drawing attention to the article, but people often construe the number as a limitation rather than just a list.
  • Understand the motivation behind comments. Those that know me are familiar with my bias against the financial media.  I believe that most financial media are meant to excite or provoke fear rather than to educate.
  • Strive to have financial confidence. Educate yourself.  Develop a team of advisors that you are comfortable with, whose philosophy and process you understand, & that work together for your benefit.
As an advisor, my hope is that clients feel educated about ways to accomplish their goals, informed about how they're doing, and comfortable with the advice that is offered.  If you want to learn more about how Locker Wealth Management can help, contact us today.

alex.locker