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Guaranteed losses

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3 years ago

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By Michael O’Connor from theislandinvestor.com

It's human nature to focus on the most recent news and react to our present environment.

Where we go wrong is our tendency to extrapolate this current environment out into the future, assuming it will last forever.

During the good times, we get caught up in the euphoria. We think things will last forever, and we find ways to rationalise even the most ludicrous narratives. Lest we forget, people were finding seemingly justifiable reasons to pay millions of dollars for pictures of cartoon rocks less than a year ago.

This tendency to extrapolate works both ways. It's easy to get caught up in the downward spiral of bad news and buy into the doomsday scenarios.

The imminent collapse of Fiat Currency, World War 3 and a Global Debt Crisis all become seemingly guaranteed outcomes when outlooks turn negative.

But nothing lasts forever, and the current environment we are in will not be the exception to the rule.

This too shall pass. While it may seem inevitable when you are stuck in the echo chamber of endless bad news, in reality, it is far less likely to lead to an apocalypse than the doomsday preacher would like you to believe.

So, where does that leave investors?

You're looking in the wrong direction.

No need to regurgitate the negative news. It's everywhere. This symphony of pessimism has led to considerable market stress, with stock and bond indexes down over 20% YTD.

But that is what has already happened. You get no special prize for regaling what is currently happening or what has happened in the past.

The stock market is a forward-looking machine, so you must align your focus accordingly. As markets fall, you should ask yourself, what does all this mean for the future? How will things look one, three, or five years down the road?

As prices fall, fear increases but so too does the future expected return. Present-day turmoil creates future opportunities. For those not of retirement age, 30% market declines should be met with open arms and viewed as buying opportunities.

Investing is still too risky

Banks are boasting 0% deposit rates while inflation hits double figures. The price of everything around you skyrockets while the absolute value of your money stays the same.

Times have changed. Your money isn't 'safe' in the bank, you are simply locking in guaranteed losses. You need to be proactive. Doing nothing with your money is no longer an option. If you want to maintain your current wealth, it needs to be tied to assets that generate positive returns over time.

This isn't about taking maximum risk of finding the optimal investment that will make you rich overnight. You simply need to realise that you are willingly losing your hard-earned money by doing nothing.

Recent market activity has created opportunities for even the most risk-averse investor. As a result of the rise in interest rates, there are risk free investments now offering between 4% and 6% annual. These are far from the most lucrative assets, but they are a significant improvement from the 0% you are getting from the bank without any increase in credit risk.

If the potential to lose money is the thing preventing you from investing in the stock market, please realise that you are already making guaranteed losses as the value of your money erodes in the bank. Cash is the worst-performing asset class in history.

Don't worry about making the perfect first step. Inaction is the real enemy here. Simply focus on finding an investment better than your current deposit account and work from there. It won't be hard to find.

Focus on improvement, not perfection.

For free weekly stock tips and direct access to my personal investment portfolio, go to www.theislandinvestor.com.

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Tree of Light ceremony on Monday

The spectacular 100ft Tree of Light in Killarney, festooned with close on 3,000 lights and topped with a giant star, will again illuminate the town this Christmas with the official […]

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3 hours ago

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7 December 2025

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The spectacular 100ft Tree of Light in Killarney, festooned with close on 3,000 lights and topped with a giant star, will again illuminate the town this Christmas with the official switch-on date planned for Monday next, December 8.

The lighting up ceremony will take place after a community Mass in the adjacent St Mary’s Cathedral at 6.15pm and a short prayer service will mark the big switch-on.
The towering Tree of Light is a landmark giant Californian Redwood tree located just outside the main door of the Pugin-designed building.
The project is an collaboration between a sub-committee of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and the Killarney parish and it creates a wonderful focal point in the town in the lead up to and during the festive season.
Killarney Parish Administrator, Fr Kieran O’Brien and Christmas in Killarney Chairman, Cllr Niall Kelleher extend a warm invitation to all community groups, schools, clubs and organisations, families and individuals to attend the special Mass next Monday evening or to visit the tree this Christmastime.
The feature star on the spectacular tree will take on an extra special meaning this year as it will be dedicated to the late Donal Grady, a long-serving local councillor and former Mayor of Killarney who worked diligently and passionately for the community.
Donal, who passed away in 2024, was a dedicated public representative who worked with great passion and a real sense of purpose on behalf of his loyal supporters.
Through his work as a long-serving chief fire officer in Killarney, he helped so many families at a time when they most needed assistance and reassurance and he brought a great sense of calm and responsibility to the position
The Tree of Light was first lit to mark the millennium year when it commemorated all those who lost their lives in the conflict in Northern Ireland and it was again illuminated in the mid-2000s to remember those who had been killed on Irish roads.
Since then the project is all about community and it celebrates the fact that Killarney is such a wonderful town to live in.
In the past, the star at the top of the tree has been dedicated to great community activists Johnny Hickey, Yvonne Quill, Paul Coghlan and Rena Kennelly.

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O’Donoghue planning National Rally Championship campaign

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5 hours ago

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7 December 2025

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Killarney’s Colin and Kieran O’Donoghue claimed victory in the Modified section of the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally, delivering a controlled run in their Ford Escort Mk2 to secure Colin’s second win in the category and Kieran’s first.


At the finish ramp outside the Plaza Hotel on Saturday evening, Colin O’Donoghue confirmed he is considering a step into the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship next season.

He said he plans to travel to Mayo in March to see how the opening round suits before making a decision.

O’Donoghue set the fastest time on all nine stages to secure the win over second-placed Chris Armstrong/Conor Smith, also in a Ford Escort.


Third place went to Gary McPhillips and Conor Mohan, 17.9 seconds further back in their Escort.


The Modified section also featured the battle for the Carrick Cup, awarded in memory of Mike Gaine to the fastest Kenmare-based crew over Moll’s Gap.


This year it went to Tommy Randles/Darragh Lynch, who set the pace among the local contenders and finished 35th overall.

Randles, a long-serving club official, has hinted this could be one of his final competitive outings.


The best Kerry Motor Club crew was John Michael Kennelly / Dylan Harrington, who took fifth overall in the Modified division.

Dave Slattery / Denis Coffey continued their strong season with 13th overall (Class 6, 4th), while Hugh McQuaid and Rathmore school teacher Declan Casey placed 15th overall and sixth in Class 6.

Other locals included Seán Enright / Kevin Doherty who were Class 3 winners on the recent Thomond Rally and backed that up here with another steady finish in 26th.


Tadhg O’Sullivan /Frank Byrnes, Seán Hartnett/Kieran Doherty, Raymond O’Neill/Jason O’Connor, Cyril Wharton/Donal Falvey and Ray Stack/Gene Stack brought their Escorts home safely inside the top 40.

Gary Healy/Niall Myers, switching from a Civic to a Toyota Twin Cam 20V, took third in Class 5.


Paudie O’Callaghan/Daniel Murphy brought their Starlet home fourth in Class 4.


Noel O’Sullivan/Nicholas Burke, one of the few crews to have contested every Historic Rally since it began in 1996, finished 50th overall.


Killarney father-and-son team Tom and Mark O’Sullivan completed the demanding event in their Peugeot 205 GTi.

Representing Kerry Motor Club, Ken McKenna / PJ O’Dowd reached the finish in their Peugeot 205.

Kevin O’Donoghue / John McElhinney used Super Rally to return to the stages after mechanical trouble, as did Kenmare’s Shane McCarthy / Eamonn Creedon who were among several crews targeting future Carrick Cup success and completed their Honda EG6’s run under Super Rally as well.

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