During COVID, I got to my parents in Walnut Creek in 35 minutes.
Once traffic normalized, it once again took 1 hour and 20 minutes.
During COVID, Google Maps told me it was 35 minutes.
Post-COVID, Google Maps told me it was 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Why?
Because Google Maps accounts for the traffic and gives you an ETA in line with current highway conditions.
The only time the ETA changes if if there was a wreck or some other slowdown that happened after the initial estimate.
So, you may ask – is this year normal traffic that’s already been accounted for or a sudden accident that’s now set you back 2 years?
This is normal traffic.
We may have been lulled into a sleepy dreamlike state where markets only go up, but this is closer to normal than the last 13 years of upswings.
And when we talk about 10% annualized, long-term returns that includes the market “traffic” of years like this.
It’s normal, expected and does not delay any previously made projections.
In fact, just like Google Maps, the only way to make the ETA inaccurate is to get off the highway to wait out the traffic.
THAT will delay you.
Riding out market downturns – and yes, even 6 month market downturns – will still get you to your destination on time.
