Lessons from Route 50: Navigating Market Terrain

Route 50, spanning 3,017 miles from Maryland to California, is a vital east-west highway known as the "Backbone of America." It traverses diverse landscapes—plains, deserts, and major mountain ranges—requiring constant
adaptation to shifting terrains. While Route 50 does not change names as you drive towards your destination, the speeds and shift changes required to navigate its elevation (up to 10,000 feet) and sidewinding turns make it
apparent that not all roads are the same. And just like navigating a cross-country trip requires adapting to change, markets also require the same ability to adapt to different market terrains.
 
Just like Route 50, markets carry familiar names (Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nasdaq, etc), yet not all market terrains are the same. Some years require setting the cruise control and enjoying the ride. Other years require an
adept foot on the brake and hand on the shifter. With 2024 being the former, and 2025 being the latter, is your retirement vehicle adjusting to the changing terrain? Or are you flying through S-curves and mountain passes at 70mph? Our Adaptiv Investment Management System ® is built to identify changes in market terrain, which allowed our clients to use cruise control in 2024 while applying the brakes during the 1st quarter of 2025, which was the worst 1st quarter for the stock market since 2022. Identifying changing market terrain is a key reason we use the Adaptiv Investment Management System ® for our clients. This System is based on price, which helps us identify trends and relative strength across 35,000 different investable assets. We are privileged to help our clients drive through an ever-changing market terrain towards their retirement destination.

 
We answer the following important questions in this installment:

• Is the Bull Market over?

• Will this current correction provide opportunity or disaster?

• Will Tariffs cause a Trade War?

• What asset class is showing signs of leadership over the coming months?

• How do we find opportunities and protect gains in this market environment?

 
This Presentation is part of our FREE Education Series. View more >
 
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 This presentation is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be used to make investment decisions. All images are for illustrative purposes only. Full disclaimers, disclosures, and terms of use can be found here. Clients of Client First Investment Management, LLC may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this presentation. Client First Investment Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the SEC.