Unloved Bull Markets

Preface

This book evolved out of frustration. Many investors, financial advisors, professional money managers, and institutions missed out on the opportunity for big returns and wealth accumulation during the eleven-year bull market from 2009 to 2020 and the subsequent bull market of 2020. We were correctly bullish during those bull markets and were frustrated by our inability to convince audiences that the stock market was going higher. Fears and intuition trumped our data and logic. The investors and managers who missed out were better at denying and dismissing bull markets than they were at recognizing them. The time to rationalize is over. It is time to learn how to recognize a bull market and make money.

For decades I have been telling financial advisors and investors “rallies and bull markets don't issue invitations” and “rallies and bull markets don't look like rallies and bull markets” … until they are over. An old Wall Street saying is that “stocks climb a wall of worry.” We are in an imperfect world and there is always something to worry about. This book will help financial advisors and investors focus on the profitable climb instead of the worries.

There is a little bit of “I told you so” in this book, but just enough to emphasize a few points and help readers avoid missing the next bull market. Of course, to get the full benefit of the messages in this book, some readers are going to have to admit they were wrong about some things. It seems worth it, though, if ...