What Return Should Investors Reasonably Expect?

In this episode, Richard Coffin discusses the importance of having reasonable expectations when investing in the stock market. He argues against the unrealistic promises of high daily or monthly returns often touted online, emphasizing that consistent, long-term returns are more achievable. Coffin uses the historical performance of the S&P 500 as a benchmark and cautions against assuming recent market trends, driven by low interest rates and quantitative easing, will continue indefinitely. He advises new investors to be disciplined, seek opportunities, and remain grounded in their expectations, highlighting the dangers of believing "this time is different." The episode is sponsored by Noa, an app for listening to curated news articles.