820 Pandemic Pack - New Pacing - FINAL - Reg1_Pages 8 / 13 / 20 5 : 00 PM Page 10 says Anthony Massaro , CFP , M Financial Planning Services . Like the rest of the world , money managers are learning to adapt on the fly while still providing quality service that clients have come to expect . While the news on the pandemic is constantly evolving , the ebbs and flows of the mar - ketplace are also constantly on the minds of clients who are now relying on their advisors heavily and in real time . And that means not only trying to navigate through these murky waters , but looking far enough down the line to be able to make informed decisions . While the news on the virus can cause fluctuation on Wall Street , there are plenty of other factors that can help drive the nation’s economy , not the least of which will be the upcoming presidential election this November . “ Believe it or not — it’s impossible for most people to comprehend [ with everything going on ] — that there will be an election in a few months . And a presidential election will cause waves no matter who wins . The economic sit - uation will be different and you have to anticipate that and be prepared for changes that may possibly occur , ” says Molotsky . An individual’s ability to withstand a downturn is largely dictated by their place in life . The younger an investor is , the more flexibility they have because they have earning years still in front of them . Those closer to retirement would be advised to be slightly more cautious and direct their money into investments that are more predictable . Of course , the larger amount of cash flow that someone has , the more risk they are able to tolerate . Whether planning for their children’s college funds , retirement or simply looking to build their portfolio , helping clients find ways to reach their financial goals so they can enjoy their golden years the way they always envisioned is one the most rewarding aspects of the job for Molotsky . “ I look forward to this . … I love this , trying to anticipate what’s going to happen , ” he says of the challenge . Ted Massaro urges investors to focus on their financial goals and not the outside noise . “ Greed and fear are what drive us to make poor investment deci - sions , ” he says . “ When you begin to consider dramatically changing your investment plan , first ask yourself why you had invested the way you did orig - inally . If the story hasn’t changed , your ? portfolio likely shouldn’t either . ” SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 17 issue 5 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 29