the agnostic investor

Written by Taraje Williams-Murray, CEO of Coroebus Wealth Management

financial planning and investment management simplified

Training for the Markets

In the fast-paced world of knowledge professions maintaining peak mental performance is critical. Yet, too often, we underestimate the value of physical health in sustaining cognitive clarity and long-term decision-making capacity.

As an athlete and coach I too at times struggle to maintain a healthy routine while running an investment advisory business and leading a software development process. This month, we’re reflecting on how exercise, managing stress, and mitigating decision fatigue can profoundly impact professional and personal success.

Why Exercise Matters for Mental Clarity

The brain is just 1-2% of your total body weight yet consumes 20% or more of our resting/basal metabolic rate. High-knowledge professions demand a high-functioning brain, and exercise is one of the most reliable ways to boost cognitive performance. Research consistently shows that physical activity enhances memory, problem-solving, and even creativity. Beyond the mental edge, it helps manage the physical strain of sedentary work environments—a common challenge in for most professionals today.

Finding time to exercise can feel daunting, especially when deadlines loom. But even small adjustments, like taking a brisk walk or using a standing desk, can help reduce fatigue and improve focus.

Eustress vs. Distress: The Stress Balance

Not all stress is harmful. Eustress—the positive kind of stress—drives us to meet challenges, achieve goals, and grow as professionals. But when that stress becomes chronic and crosses into distress, it can wreak havoc on decision-making and health.

Understanding the balance between eustress and distress is key. Taking breaks to “reboot” the brain—whether through meditation, a walk, or simply stepping away from screens—can help convert what feels overwhelming into manageable, productive energy. It could also do wonders for your posture.

Decision Fatigue and the Power of Routine

Decision fatigue is a hidden enemy in high-pressure professions. The more decisions you make in a day, the more the quality of those decisions deteriorates.

Building routines around daily tasks can free up mental bandwidth for what matters most. Similarly, prioritizing rest and self-care—like a good night’s sleep or an hour a day of scheduled downtime—ensures the brain has the stamina for critical thinking when it counts.

Pythia® Update

Development for Pythia® is progressing steadily. While we are still testing and don’t expect to be market-ready this month, we anticipate announcing a release date in Q1 2025. Our current focus is on refining the data ETL pipeline, enhancing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) insights, and improving the user interface.

Last month, we attended Google DevFest, where we gained valuable insights to help us elevate the user experience. These takeaways will inform several key enhancements as we prepare Pythia for launch. Stay tuned for updates and screenshots—we’re excited to share more soon!

Market Musings

As the year draws to a close, several economic headwinds demand attention. Inflationary pressures continue to be shaped by the policies of our president-elect, with the specter of higher-for-longer interest rates weighing heavily on markets. Rising rate of bankruptcies signal growing strain on consumers and businesses, and whispers of a potential recession are becoming harder to ignore.

What does “higher for longer” mean in this environment? For many, it suggests a prolonged period of elevated borrowing costs, tighter liquidity, and increased scrutiny of risk. Continued rising inventory alongside increases in price will require buyers be well positioned in a slowing market.

More to come soon!

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