Friday the 13th - Investing and Superstition

The day I signed my first ever mortgage paperwork for our new house was on Friday, January 13, 2012. Yes, I became a homeowner for the first time in my adult life on Friday the 13th. There are so many negative connotations about Friday the 13th, that some people may intentionally say “no” to a closing on that day. Others might secretly dread that some crazy thing was destined to happen to them at that very house.

For me, Friday the 13th wasn’t a day to dread, it was the day I had dreamed of, owning a home! A day for my husband, Neil, and I to start a new chapter in our lives with a home in Maryville and our 6 month old daughter. A day for us to invest in our future as a family.

If you want to come up with a reason to dread any given day/event/season, the markets will give you plenty – and that is WITHOUT reading a single news headline. We have terms such as “The January Effect”, “Super Bowl Theory”, “Sell in May and Go Away”, and “The October Effect”, and for fun, “Friday the 13^th” is also a superstitious day in the markets, for some.

We do not want to base an investment strategy or your long-term goal plan on market superstitions. We want your investment strategy based in financial science and your Goal Plan based on your needs, wants, and tolerance for market fluctuations. We know we will have periods of upheaval in the markets. We know there will be times when you are anxious about your jobs, college costs, daily headlines – and the dollar value on your financial statements.

Our charge, however, is to be by your side during these times – good and bad – and talk about your plans. Our charge is to keep you working toward your ultimate plans, despite the turbulence. Our charge is to help you be excited when you reach that next goal even if it falls on Friday the 13^th or any other superstitious day.

We believe that if we can persevere through some of the challenges, we will continue to make progress on those long-term goals. For me personally, becoming a homeowner on Friday the 13^th was just the beginning of a wonderful journey. I have incredibly fond memories of my first home – new Christmas traditions, lots of “firsts” for my daughter Grace, doing a major home addition while 7 months pregnant, welcoming our 2^nd daughter Amelia, and lots of gatherings of family and friends. Our Friday the 13^th decision turned into eight beautiful years in this home, making wonderful family memories.

If you have questions about how to make plans that look past the headlines and superstitions, give us a call. We’d love to help you write your story.

Amanda Howerton, CFP® is a Senior Advisor with Rather & Kittrell. She is available at [email protected].