A New Bull Market

It's official. We've entered a new bull market in the United States.

At least according to the generally-accepted definition of stocks going up by 20%.

(See the little blip on the far right of the chart above.)

Of course, this is no guarantee that we'll continue this trajectory. Things could go south at any time.

But I'm not one to try to guess the direction of the markets.

In fact, I think talking too much about the stock market can serve as a distraction from what actually matters (focusing on the things we can control).

I'd much rather decide on a good, balanced asset allocation that's appropriate for one's life stage and investment risk profile, and then stick with it through thick and thin.

But I also think the fact that we've entered a new bull market is a good reminder that trying to time the market usually doesn't end up well. Things didn't feel good last October, in fact they felt terrible, but it ended up being a fantastic time to be invested.

Terrible times will come again, though I have no idea when. Just remember it's best to stay the course when those times inevitably come.