Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Beware the ides of March.
The phrase "Beware the Ides of March"originates from William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar," where a soothsayer warns Caesar of his impending assassination on March 15, 44 BCE.
The Ides of March is the actual 15th day of March in the Roman calendar, and was the Roman New Year (before Caesar moved it to January - 2 years before his death). It was a significant date for religious observances and debt settlements... andCaesar's assassination on that day was a significant turning point in Roman history.
Using history as our guide, there is a consistent pattern of impulsive and emotional behavior at this time of year as winter ends, sleep cycles are altered, flowers bloom and moods change.
Hence the term: "Spring Fever".
As the "Ides of March" were a dire warning to Caesar, so should they be for the goal-focused, plan-driven investor whose goal is a life of dignity and independence.
It is not a coincidence that highest time for large,impulse-relatedpurchases of cars and homes consistently occur at this exact same time of year. Advertisers and the media,who do not hold your personal success as a top-priority, know this all-too-well.
The automotive industry shows peak demand in the spring, with the weakest sales occurring in winter. For homes, the highest sales typically occur in the spring and summer months, as warmer weather and longer days encourage home buying and moving activities.
Whether it’s the sudden urge to clean and organize a physical space like our home, or a sense of restlessness that compels us to move in other parts of our lives, the longer days and shorter nights are often a source of unexpected energy.
So as we move through this season toward wealth and independence, continue to remind yourself and your family at this time of year:
Am I acting on impulse?
Or am I acting on a plan?
Source: "Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth" Nick Murray, Investopedia.org, Case-Shiller Housing Index