Whereas we could also be drawn to the clairvoyants and the algorithms, let’s not overlook that the longer term isn’t a riddle to resolve
Critiques and proposals are unbiased and merchandise are independently chosen. Postmedia might earn an affiliate fee from purchases made by means of hyperlinks on this web page.
Article content material
Because the calendar flips to a recent web page, we discover ourselves awash in predictions.
Article content material
Article content material
This isn’t new; it’s virtually a convention. In my line of labor as a wealth adviser, it’s an annual ritual. My inbox fills with questions: Will rates of interest lastly stabilize? Are the markets poised to soar or sink? What’s the ripple impact of recent tariffs on our Canadian financial system? How about alternate charges?
Commercial 2
Article content material
The questions are infinite, starting from the pragmatic to the speculative, and infrequently requested in hushed tones as if I may need a secret hotline to the longer term. (Spoiler alert: I don’t.)
Everybody, from economists to stargazers, appears keen to color an image of what’s forward and we lap it up, hoping for reassurance, hoping it’s all sunshine and rainbows.
Article content material
Reality be informed, we’re hooked on predictions. Why? As a result of they provide the phantasm of management in a world that’s inherently unpredictable.
However right here’s the factor about predictions: they’re simply educated guesses, if not outright conjectures, dressed up in a pleasant outfit — swimsuit or gown, take your choose. With that in thoughts, listed here are a couple of common truths to assist us navigate the noise.
There will probably be excellent news, and there will probably be dangerous information
Life has a knack for stability, doesn’t it? The inventory market will rise; it should additionally fall. Politicians will make choices, some that work and a few that don’t. Infants will probably be born and, sadly, a few of us will lose family members. That is the ebb and stream of existence.
Cash will probably be spent, correctly or frivolously
We’ll shell out for wants, needs and every little thing in between. Whether or not it’s for groceries or a last-minute splurge on that shiny gadget, our spending displays not simply economics however our feelings.
Commercial 3
Article content material
Taxes will probably be paid, and low will probably be brewed
Some issues in life are non-negotiable. For instance, taxes are a certainty that rivals even dying. However let’s not overlook life’s easier joys, resembling an ideal cup of espresso savoured on a frosty morning.
The solar will rise and set
A cliché, maybe, however one which serves as a reminder of life’s rhythms. The world retains turning even when predictions miss their mark. There’s a wierd consolation in that, don’t you assume?
Whereas we could also be drawn to the clairvoyants and the algorithms, let’s not overlook that the longer term isn’t a riddle to resolve. It’s an unfolding story, one we co-write with the selections we make right this moment.
As an alternative of fretting over what would possibly occur, let’s concentrate on what we will management. Set objectives, save for wet days and cherish the moments that make up this unpredictable, lovely trip known as life.
Beneficial from Editorial
And if you happen to’re actually itching for a forecast, right here’s mine: 2025 will probably be a 12 months of surprises, each nice and difficult. What issues most will not be what occurs, however how we reply. In any case, one of the simplest ways to foretell the longer term is to form it ourselves.
Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is a wealth adviser at RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and creator of the Money-Wealthy Exit Podcast.
Bookmark our web site and help our journalism: Don’t miss the enterprise information it’s worthwhile to know — add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and join our newsletters right here.
Article content material
