I got a bit of a windfall this month with my unused vacation payout, and after having spent the past year paying down my mortgages, I figured this would be the month to start putting some of my savings into an index fund. Here is the rub:
Since I work in financial services, even index fund trades need to be pre-cleared. I dutifully did so as soon as my salary hit.
I was feeling good. There had been a little dip on the news of the steel tariffs, and I figured I could shove a good chunk of money into the fund.
Then, it took 2 days for the clearance to arrive, 3 when you consider that it came after market close on the 2nd day, so here I am, contemplating 2 days of spikes where the numbers moved almost +3% and I lost my nerve. If I want to trade now, I have to submit another clearance request because it was only valid for a business day, so I'll just throw the money at my mortgage for the safety of the 4.625% (foreign borrower, the rate is what the rate is).
I lost my nerve, partly because of what I thought of as an unfair process stacked against me (trade when my Overlords allow, and get a weirdly short window to do so). Rationally, I know this is not something I should care about. Things will move up and down and I just need to deal with it. On the other hand, I am glad that I have the psychological safety of the mortgage so I can feel like it was not a wasted opportunity since I was able to kick my principal between the legs.
Part of me wants to ride out this whole "correction-no correction" moment and work instead on killing the mortgage. Once that happens, then I won't really have an alternative - I'll have to just close my eyes and click the "buy" button. Alternatively, I can try again next month and retire to the psychological safety of my mortgage if I get spooked.
Does anyone have any wise words for me? This is absolutely a first-world problem to have, but even first-world kids need love and advice.