We’re moving into the later stages of a remarkable, five -year stock market rally, fueled by low interest rates and strong corporate profits. The S&P 500 is at an all-time high while the world seems to be on the brink of crisis; with unrest in Ukraine, Russian sanctions, an Ebola outbreak, weaker economies in Europe and the ongoing problems in Syria and Iraq. The stock market’s ho-hum response to what is happening around the world makes sense if there isn’t another attractive investment alternative. It’s now been five years since a major market correction. The US economy is still in recovery mode and corporate earnings are strong. Buying on the dips is still the norm and volatility is very low. Is a correction on the horizon? No, don’t expect a correction of the 2008 magnitude. However, a moderate market decline depends on what happens with interest rates and the relative[more…]