← Back to all posts

The Signals and Noise

Mar 13, 2026
Follow Us!

Ending March 13, 2026

 

The Members Message 

 

With a war raging in the Middle East, there will be plenty of speculation, predictions and guessing over the next 3-6 months.

If the past 2 weeks is anything to go by, there are 100 theories about what is happening, 100 about what Trump's strategy is, and 100 about how to make money during periods of conflict. 

It won't be unlike the past 100 years, but because we are emotional beings, we will make judgements on what we hear, see and read in the heat of the  moment. 

Tom, Jacob and I are also susceptable to external influences. After all, we too need some input into our decision-making process.  

There are plenty of opportunitists out there as well and they will use these times to pitch their product in hope of generating an income for themselves. If they are in private credit, then they pitch private credit as "safety" and a place to shelter from the volatility storm. If they are in bonds, then bonds is the place to be. Real estate....you get the picture. 

This is a time to remember numbers versus narratives. 

Anyone can make projections, but the numbers will often tell a simple story. 

One example - you will hear a lot of analysis about what happened previously to oil, gold, stocks, etc when war broke out. While these are convincing, we need to do some secong level thinking. It doesn't mean some of the anlaysis will be wrong, indeed, there must be a few scenarios that will be right just by luck. But you have to ask is the current situation the same as previous situations before you can draw the same conclusions.

We remain wedded to the benefits of valuation as a tool to inform us about our portfolio allocation. Our message is there are times to make a lot of money and times to be cautious and both are guided by valuation. In narratives, there is always some reason to be bullish or bearish and many of these beliefs are based on hope, fears, emotions or self interest. 

Numbers just are. 

So be careful over the coming months and don't act too quickly based on a single story. Check whether there is an opposing argument that offers an alternative view. 

Keep the long term close in your thoughts and decisions.

Or simply listen to the numbers. They are usually right in the end.  

The TMM Podcast

Spotify, Apple, YouTube

Listen Here 

P.S - Leave a review to help us grow :)

 

To see the weekly video and get our signals, join Signals & Noise Premium for just $9.99 per week.

You’ll get our stock market analysis, weekly reviews, monthly live coaching calls, priority Q&A, extended newsletters, plus access to our full library of past sessions, masterclasses and online-courses.

High level market insight + group coaching + community support, in one place for $10...

JOIN NOW 

 

This post is for paying subscribers only

Already have an account? Log in

Cash pays 5.5%. What is your money doing?| Signals and Noise, August 14
  Access Newsletter  There is an iron law of investing. It is called opportunity cost. Right now, risk-free cash pays around 5.5% a year. That is the bar every other investment has to clear after risk. The S&P 500 dividend yield is now 1.03%, the lowest ever recorded. The ASX 300 sits at about 3%, well below cash. And the sudden wave of private credit offerings quoting 7.5% and 8% paid monthly?...
Preparation, not prediction | Signals and Noise, August 7
  Access Newsletter  This week's Signals & Noise is live. The theme: you do not need to predict the fire to survive it, you need insurance. We break down how to build a portfolio that is not fragile, ideally one that is robust or even anti-fragile, so a market fall holds no fear. It is the frame we are carrying into a genuinely uncertain stretch. Premium members also got the Cotality table show...
Is the property game finally over? Signals and Noise, July 31
  Access Newsletter  Most investors fail for two reasons. They base risk on their age instead of what markets actually cost today. And they get pulled into daily noise instead of thinking about how time compounds a portfolio. In this week's free edition: - This week's podcast, The Property Game Is Over: why two decades of leveraged one way bets on Australian housing look to be finished, free to...

The Signals & Noise Newsletter

Cut through the noise. Each week, Signals & Noise delivers clear, evidence-based insights to help you think critically about markets, cycles, and risk. Just the signals that matter, backed by data and experience. For free, get key market summaries, visual charts, macro signals, decision-making tools, and a contrarian perspective. Smart, independent thinking sent straight to your inbox in under five minutes a week.

Subscribe for Free

Join a 1500+ strong community of likeminded investors; get our latest content including weekly market updates, portfolio reviews, blogs, and our podcast to your inbox, every Saturday

Not Financial Advice