This Week’s Blog Is Written By Matt Totsky, CFA®, IAG Wealth Platform Manager
July 29, 2026
Small Sample Size
Last Wednesday, in the second game of their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox did something they hadn’t done in the previous three weeks—they lost.
They had won 15 consecutive games prior to that loss, the longest winning streak by any team in Major League Baseball since 2021.
Viewed in isolation, you might have concluded the Red Sox were the best team in baseball and the favorites to win the World Series.
But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of their winning streak was just how unremarkable the team had been up until that point in the season. They started the year losing eight of their first ten games. They fired their manager in late April. In fact, before the streak began, their record stood at 37-48—last in their division and hardly looking like a team capable of stringing together that many wins.
Looking at the season as a whole would have drastically changed your opinion of their odds against the rest of the league. Fifteen games feels significant until you remember it’s less than 10% of a 162-game season.
Markets can often feel the same way. Short, explosive runs in individual securities or asset classes can tempt investors into believing those investments are the only place worth putting their money.
Sometimes those streaks end just as quickly as they began. Other times, they seem to defy all reason and go on for months or even years.
Whether they last a few weeks or a few years, every streak eventually ends—some even in spectacular fashion. Trades become crowded, earnings disappoint, or broader global forces cause consumer sentiment to shift.
That’s why maintaining a broader view of the markets—and resisting the urge to become a “bandwagon fan” of any one investment theme in the short term has proven historically to be a wiser strategy.
Stocks, sectors, and market segments move in and out of favor, so the best course of action is to remain well diversified when those streaks are suddenly snapped.
Loyalty to one team is admirable, but it can leave you in a state of euphoria or heartbreak depending on their performance. Your portfolio should not have the same effect on your emotional state or the health of your financial future. If you’ve found yourself becoming more of a fan than an investor when it comes to one investment idea, let us help you diversify your lineup so one losing streak doesn’t define your financial future.
Quote of the week:Tommy Lasorda: “No matter how good you are, you’re going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are, you’re going to win one-third of your games. It’s the other third that makes the difference.”
Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through IAG Wealth Partners, LLC, (IAG) a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Jason Ganiere is solely an investment advisor representative of IAG Wealth Partners LLC, and not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss. Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results.
Any opinions are those of IAG and not necessarily those of LPL Financial. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Investing involves risk including loss of principle.
ART: 1148352
Photo Credit: iStock 2261956367
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