On Money & More – September 2021

This past month, I completed a “bucket list” item—climbing Mt. Rainier. It took months of training, and all 14,411 feet were challenging, but it was also immensely rewarding. And at times terrifying. There were also a few lessons for a financial advisor along the way!

The final day began with a four-hour summit ascent at 12:50am, but at 10:30pm our group’s “sleep” was interrupted by some disoriented climbers arriving in our camp. They had been at high altitudes for over 21 hours, and one was exhibiting concerning symptoms of altitude sickness. The guides leading our team quickly assessed the needs of the climber, giving supplemental oxygen immediately. After continuing to monitor the individual, they decided that one of our guides would leave our team and escort the independent group back down to Camp Muir where the Park Rangers were stationed. This descent normally takes just over an hour, but in the deteriorated condition these strangers were in, the trip took them over three hours!

Undeterred, our remaining team set out for the summit. With three guides and six climbers, we still had plenty of expertise on hand. My climbing partner and I were roped-up with a guide from Nepal who had reached the top of Everest 13 times. About 15 minutes out of camp, our lead guide spotted a group of individuals high up on the Disappointment Cleaver. Halting our group, she yelled ahead, “You are off the path! Get down off the rocks!” Simultaneously, a boulder above them dislodged. Never before had I witnessed such a near-death experience as I did watching the boulder hurtle down the mountain towards the two climbers. They tucked into the mountain side, as a rock as big as a refrigerator literally bounced over them.

Needless to say, we amateur climbers were rattled. We had just set out and had seen two different groups take life-threatening missteps. I turned to the guide next to me and said, “I’m really glad we are doing this with an experienced team.” His response, “Yeah, the Yelp reviews write themselves!”

A guide is not required to climb Mt. Rainier, and thousands do it every year without one. However, for many of us, attempting something so dangerous independently isn’t worth the risk. The same can frequently be said for financial advice. At Cutler, we guide our clients toward their goals; a solvent retirement, the purchase of a new home, or paying for education. At times, this journey can be treacherous. We witnessed a boulder crashing down last spring when the pandemic brought stocks quickly crashing down. During this crisis, our clients looked to our guidance for how best to handle this uncertainty and our expertise brought them peace of mind. Some investors, with enough experience and confidence will choose to proceed alone. But for those who want a partner along the way, one that has seen many of the missteps that others have made, a financial advisor can be that trusted guide who helps you get to your summit.

All opinions and data included in this commentary are as of August 10, 2021 and are subject to change without notice. The opinions and views expressed herein are of Cutler Investment Counsel, LLC and are not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or individual investment advice. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation or solicitation to purchase or sell securities. This information should not be used as the sole basis to make any investment decision. The statistics have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of this information cannot be guaranteed. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principle. Neither Cutler Investment Counsel, LLC nor its information providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.