The Lowry Letter®

Week of 5/7/2020

We are now almost 2 months into restrictions imposed due to the COVID pandemic and our meetings with you have been limited to phone or video conference. We miss seeing you!

As a result, we will be holding a series of video conferences for our clients, sharing some brief thoughts about current conditions and answering your questions. If there is anything you would like to see us answer in that forum, please send them to me or Nicole at nicole@lowryandlowry.com .

The first videoconference will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 5:30pm . The web link information and other details will be provided via separate email.

We learned: the World’s Greatest Stretch! We don’t stretch as much as we should, and now we can spend 7 minutes getting precise instruction on how to improve mobility and loosen up sore quarantined muscles.

We think: this Criminal episode on forgiveness makes some interesting points that really stayed with us. Among them- why don’t we teach kids in school how to forgive? We think it is worth a listen.

We read: about Murder Hornets! We think you’ll forgive the scary, bold italics when you see what they look like.

We've been: big dinosaur fans since before we read Jurassic Park in 1991, and continue to be amazed by how our knowledge of them continues to evolve. Some scientists believe that the ancient Sahara was the most dangerous place on earth. It was then a water-rich environment, inhabited by large predatory dinosaurs and fish.

We recommend: Commonwealth’s May Market Update, presented by Brad McMillan. It packs a lot of good information into four-and-a-half minutes.

Q: What can we expect from the economy now that some states are relaxing restrictions?

A: Let’s start by looking at what has already happened. The decline in economic output for the 1 ^st quarter of 2020 will be joined by an even steeper decline in the 2 ^nd quarter. The normal definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of a shrinking economy. This recession will mark an official end to the longest economic expansion in American history.

The end of the recession will be more likely as economies reopen, hinging on whether they can remain open. The stock market’s improvement from the March lows indicates a certain confidence that this will be the case. We have heard predictions from many commentators that total economic activity will not get back to pre-pandemic levels until next year at the earliest, possibly later.

One key issue is unemployment. Given the concerns about second (or third) waves of the virus, employers may be slow to bring staff to pre-virus levels. Travel and related activities will take some time to recover, as will sporting events and other large gatherings. We look forward to recovery, but will be patient with the pace.

Advisory Services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities and additional advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc, are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc. is located at 12921 SW 1st Rd, Suite 215, Tioga, FL 32669. 352-333-7990

Lowry Financial Advisors is the only advisory firm that helps its clients reach their goals through The Achieving Simplicity® Experience™, providing clarity and confidence in their personal and financial lives.