Should You Compare Your Portfolio's Performance to the S&P 500?
About this episode
The episode discusses whether comparing personal investment performance to the S&P 500 is fair and how to choose appropriate benchmarks for individual goals.
When you watch financial news or look at your 401(k) statement, everything is compared to the S&P 500. But is the S&P 500 actually a fair way to judge your personal investment performance? In this episode of The Market Moment, the guys look beyond the S&P 500 to discuss how to choose the right investment benchmarks for your personal goals. They break down why comparing a diversified portfolio to a single growth index can create unrealistic expectations—and how giving in to "fear and greed" can throw a wrench in your long-term strategy. They also explore the major psychological and emotional shift that happens when transitioning from the wealth accumulation stage to the spending stage in retirement. If you are nearing retirement, learning how to "solve for income" first can give you the permission and confidence you need to actually enjoy your hard-earned resources. Key takeaways from this episode: ➡️ The Benchmark Trap: Why comparing a diversified portfolio (like a 60/40 or total market allocation) to the S&P 500 is an unfair comparison. ➡️ Managing Expectations: How applying the wrong benchmark triggers fear of missing out (FOMO) and greed, making it harder to…
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