From the perspective of an objective investor, it’s impossible to have any complaints about the stock market.
Look at the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC)
It generated total returns of 26%, 25%, and 18%, respectively, in 2023, 2024, and 2025. And as of July 29, its total return in 2026 is 9%. Had you bought $10,000 of an S&P 500 exchange-traded fund at the start of 2023, you’d have about $20,000 right now.
That performance warrants extreme optimism. But this doesn’t seem to be the prevailing mood. It’s time for a mental reset.