A Correction Is Coming!

Warning, a stock market correction is coming. The political environment, lack of a financial stimulus package, the pandemic, corporate bankruptcies, civil unrest, and so on will be too much for the market to bear. To prove my point, let's examine a few previous market cycles.

March 9, 2009, to October 16, 2020

The S&P 500 soared 415% from March 9, 2009, to October 16, 2020. The historic climb started after the market plunged more than 50% during the Great Recession. If you invested $100,000 at the beginning of this bull market, your account would be worth $515,000.

Despite the bull market's stellar performance, the S&P 500 fell 34% in March 2020. It lost more than 10% nine times and dropped more than 5% on thirteen separate occasions. The average decline during this bull market was 2.71%.

January 1, 1991, to April 1, 2000

The S&P 500 climbed 353% during this bull market, including the late nineties' melt-up in internet stocks from 1995 to 1999. This market was the first time where investors could trade online, and firms like Schwab, T.D. Ameritrade and E*Trade rose to prominence. A $100,000 investment at the beginning of this bull market grew to $453,800 on April 1, 2000.

However, the late nineties bull market experienced many significant drops, including a 20% drop in 1998 and more than a dozen declines of 5% or more. The average decline during this bull market was 1.89%.

January 1, 1982, to September 1, 1987

The S&P 500 rose 163% during the great '80s bull market. After a dormant 1970s, the market increased significantly, fueled by declining interest rates. A $100,000 investment grew to $263,900.

Like previous bull markets, this one experienced several severe corrections. In 1982, the market fell more than 16%, and in 1984 it dropped 14%. The average decline for this five-year run was 3.97%.