Markets and the economy are in one of the more uncertain times with unclear guidance.  “Our view is cautious as we close out the second quarter,” said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. “Global central bank uncertainty and the pace of tighter monetary policy, still-tight global energy … markets — which may lead to higher prices still — and headwinds for corporate earnings growth are risks for investors moving forward.”

Historic Inflation is causing the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates at an unprecedented rate.  Higher rates are intended to slow down the economy and cause prices to return to “normal,” whatever that is.  Even the bond market is being impacted- with rising rates, bond prices turn negative, depending on the maturity dates. So, what is an investor to do?

You may be wondering:

• Are my investments properly positioned to weather the current and near-term market risks?
• Has our advisor team made pre-emptive modifications to our investment allocations and reduced our exposure to some of the more risky holdings?
• Have they been communicating with us on a regular basis and providing meaningful updates on their strategies to help protect our hard-earned dollars?
• Have they reviewed our financial plan to determine if we’re still on track to achieve our retirement and other financial goals?
• Or, are they just telling us to just ride it out and hope for the best?

Or, you may have been trying to be a self-directed investor, but in this market, realized this isn’t as easy as you thought.

It might be a good time for a second opinion to get a more up-to-date evaluation of our long-term goals and risk tolerance.  Your financial advisor is supposed to be one of your most trusted relationships, but if they are either un-communicative, incompetent, or at worst, uncaring, it may be time to consider another more attentive and client-focused advisor relationship. It’s your money, so why not work with a responsive advisor team that is looking out for your best interests, not theirs?

Any opinions are those of Thomas Fleishel and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Every investor’s situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.