Figuring out Retirement | Bad News/Good News & Consumer Spending

The Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go Years of Retirement

We often talk about retirement in three phases: the Go-Go years, followed by the Slow-Go years, and then the No-Go years.

This framework helps couples approaching retirement or in the early stages think clearly about what those years might actually look like.

We’ve found that it usually takes a couple one to three years after retiring to figure out what truly brings them joy and contentment.

There’s a natural recalibration that happens in those early years. Couples begin asking:

Where can we spend more to get more joy?
How can we be more intentional with our time and relationships?
Who needs our help?

These questions are being asked both between partners and within the financial plan itself. They’re looking at their net worth, their cash flows, and asking: Is this stockpile of money actually helping us live the life we want?

Because at that moment, when they have their health, freedom, time, and financial resources, they realize this is the window to go and do the things we’ve been waiting for.

That’s why we’re big believers in front-loading activity during the Go-Go years. We’ve seen so many situations where a health event or diagnosis suddenly moves someone from Go-Go to Slow-Go—or even No-Go—faster than they expected.

So, our message is this: Clearly articulate your priorities while you have wealth, health, and time.

Bad News/Good News: Which do you want first—the bad news or the good news?

Here’s the Deal

After stocks gained more than 2% in July, the first day of August landed with a thud, as the S&P 500 fell 1.60%, the first 1% drop since before Flag Day (June 13) and the worst overall single day since a 1.61% drop on May 21. The truth is, after a 28% rally and a historically calm market the past few months, some type of well-deserved volatility and a potential pause is perfectly normal.

The Bad News

August tends to be a bit more volatile, especially in an election year. The average post-election year peaks in early August and tends to bottom in late October:

Or, we could look at it this way:

The Good News

The big drop on August 1 brought with it the first close for the S&P 500 beneath the 20-day moving average after an incredible 68 trading days above it, the longest streak since 1998. There are eight other times the index was above the 20-day moving average for at least 60 days, and the good news is that after these long streaks ended, it didn’t mean the bulls stopped having fun.

A year later, stocks were higher seven out of eight times, and the past four times (going back 50 years), stocks were up each time, with a 14% gain the worst year, while two years saw a gain of more than 20%.

Stocks were up in May, June, and July in 2025, something that has surprisingly happened three years in a row and five of the past six years. The good news is that after these three months are higher, the rest of the year (final five months) is higher 15 out of 17 times and up nearly six percent on average, with more than an 8% median return.

You’ve heard us say it, and you will again—investing is a long game, and these bumps in the road are expected. If you have questions, let us know.

Shipments from China and Consumer Spending: U.S. consumer spending is facing headwinds from tariffs, relatively high interest rates, student loan payments restarting, and deportations, lowering the number of consumers. Container ship departures from China to the U.S. are collapsing:

When consumers cannot get the products that they want from abroad, and the products that are imported are more expensive because of tariffs, the outcome is a slowdown in U.S. consumer spending:

Making some extra cash: While Swimply isn’t a new concept (it’s been around since 2019), it’s catching on in different areas, and people are finding a new side hustle. The concept is simple: you rent out your backyard and pool to someone. It’s the Airbnb of swimming pools. One pool owner reports making $22,000/month. We’d probably all not mind that kind of extra cash! Read more here.

*The views expressed represent the opinions of Compass Ion Advisors, LLC, as of the date noted and are subject to change. These views are not intended as a forecast, a guarantee of future results, an investment recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. The information provided is of a general nature and should not be construed as investment advice or to provide any investment, tax, financial, or legal advice or service to any person. The information contained has been compiled from sources deemed reliable, yet accuracy is not guaranteed.

Additional information, including management fees and expenses, is provided on our Form ADV Part 2 available upon request or at the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website here. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.