The title above may bring back memories of the final scene from the movie with the same name, when the main characters opt to drive off the precipice as they are cornered by law enforcement officers rather than face the alternative. Given the media and market obsession with the "fiscal cliff" debates I understand your thinking, but that is not where I am going with this. "Thelma & Louise" are actually the monikers that we gave to my youngest daughter Kathryn and her friend Morgan when they were in high school. They were tagged with the names after a wandering adventure in a neighboring town. Kathryn was a somewhat new driver, and they were on their way to a community service event with their field hockey team to a location that was no more than 15 minutes away. Unfortunately, "Kat" had an undeveloped sense of direction, probably because she listened to her iPod and paid no attention whenever we were in the car. Apparently her friend Morgan was no better. They wandered for more than an hour, never reaching their destination, before turning back to finally arrive back home safely. The story became legendary and hence the link to the wandering characters from the movie above.

I'll forgive you for asking what this has to do with investing in the market, but please let me explain. The "fiscal cliff" may be the focal point, but the wandering journey that brought us to this point, and the wandering journey that will no-doubt happen afterwards, will have a significant impact on the markets and all of us.

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