{3 minutes to read} One of the most encouraging truths in investing is that, historically, equities have been a powerful tool for building wealth over the long term. Patient investors have often been rewarded, not because markets were smooth, but because long-term investing has allowed the power of compounding to work over time.

That does not mean the path has been easy.

Periods of volatility, uncertainty, and market decline are a normal part of investing. No one knows in advance how long a difficult period will last, how severe it may become, or what event may eventually improve conditions. Every period has its own causes, its own headlines, and its own reasons why it may feel different while it is happening.

The current environment is no exception. While the facts of today are unique, uncertainty itself is not. Over time, investors have lived through wars, recessions, inflation, financial crises, political shocks, and many other difficult periods. Despite those challenges, equities have historically delivered strong long-term returns.

That is one reason long-term investing has been such an effective wealth-building tool. As a mathematical illustration, at a 10% annual compounded rate of return, $1 grows to more than $100 over 50 years. That is not a forecast or guarantee, and actual returns will vary, sometimes significantly. Still, it helps illustrate why investing has historically been worth the discomfort that can come with short-term market turbulence.

At VIA IV, we believe portfolios should be built with that reality in mind. We do not assume uncertainty can be avoided. Instead, we incorporate it into our investment approach. Our philosophy is straightforward: we trust market prices, diversify broadly, and try to tune out the noise. We believe a disciplined, long-term approach is generally more effective than reacting to headlines or trying to predict short-term market movements.

That is also why we generally recommend including fixed income alongside equities. Fixed income is not expected to provide the same long-term return potential as stocks, but it can help reduce volatility, provide liquidity, and support a portfolio structure that investors are more likely to stay with during unsettled periods.   

In our view, enduring difficult markets is not separate from successful long-term investing. It is part of it. A thoughtful investment plan should be designed not only for favorable periods, but also for the inevitable stretches of uncertainty along the way.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Disclosure Statements 

The commentary on this website reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the VIA IV Investments, LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by VIA IV Investments, LLC or performance returns of any VIA IV Investments, LLC Investments client. This should not be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, product, or service. There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Performance may contain both live and back-tested data. Data, if provided, is for illustrative purposes only. It does not represent the actual performance of any client portfolio or account and should not be interpreted as an indication of such performance. VIA IV Portfolios are recommended based on time horizon and risk tolerance.  For more information about Index Fund Advisor, Inc. please review our brochure. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing on this website constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transactions, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. VIA IV Investments, LLC manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Jeff Holland

VIA IV Investments
http://viaiv.com
Accredited Investment Fiduciary®