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As we turn the page on 2022 and look with cautious optimism at 2023 for some respite in markets, investors are appraising the investment landscape with an understandable degree of trepidation. Whilst a mild recession seems the widely expected outcome this year, we are starting the year from a more attractive base to generate long-term returns.

I have recently returned from a holiday to Cape Verde, where the country’s motto of “No Stress” suits the tropical island lifestyle. After returning to (a much colder) reality it has dawned on me that investors ought to take a leaf out of the Cape Verdean’s book and try not to stress and act in haste when making investment decisions.

Having booked my first skiing holiday in 11 years with some friends in Chamonix towards the end of January, I’m seeing news articles showing temperatures approaching 10c and zero snow on the ground. When I booked the trip for my group, of all the things I considered that might scupper the trip; no snow in the Alps, in January, was not one of them. Investing is far from immune to such tales of the unexpected.

The month of January takes its name from the Roman god Janus, whose two opposing faces depict duality and transition, endings, and new beginnings. This god of gateways looks both backward and forward, and if ever there was a January to excite him (he is generally depicted with a beard), then this is surely it.