Climbing Escher’s Stairs
Why Many Investors Feel Like They’re Going Nowhere
In 1960, artist M.C. Escher created his famous lithograph Ascending and Descending. The artwork depicts rows of people endlessly climbing and descending a staircase that leads nowhere—a visual paradox where progress is an illusion.
For many investors today, especially in an era of mobile investing apps and constant market headlines, the stock market can feel exactly the same: constant motion, but no real advancement.
The Illusion of Progress
Markets move up, down, and sideways every single day. On a mobile app, those movements are front and center—green arrows one moment, red arrows the next. It’s easy to mistake activity for achievement, but just like Escher’s staircase, much of this daily “climb” is nothing more than an optical illusion.
Add in FOMO—fear of missing out—and the illusion grows stronger. Social media amplifies stories of overnight gains and “can’t miss” trades. To the individual investor, it feels as if everyone else is climbing higher while you’re stuck on a lower step. In reality, many are just looping in the same cycle—chasing quick wins, reacting to dips, and ending up right back where they started.
Breaking Free From the Staircase
The key to progress is stepping off the illusion of endless ups and downs. That’s where professional guidance comes in.
A financial advisor’s role isn’t simply to pick investments—it’s to help you:
Define your true goals (retirement, education, legacy, financial independence)
Build a diversified, disciplined plan that aligns with those goals
Avoid distractions caused by market noise, daily swings, or trending stocks
Stay focused on the long-term path forward
Instead of running in circles, you move with intention toward destinations that matter.
Investing in Today’s Environment
Mobile investing apps have opened doors for millions of new investors. That accessibility is a positive step, but it also magnifies the psychological traps Escher captured so brilliantly—the feeling of climbing without rising.
The difference comes down to perspective. Do you want your financial journey to feel like running in circles? Or do you want it to be a purposeful climb toward something meaningful?
The Bottom Line
Escher’s staircase is an illusion. Your financial future doesn’t have to be. With a clear plan, disciplined strategy, and professional guidance, you can trade the endless up-and-down march for a steady, purposeful climb toward your goals.
Ready to Step Off the Staircase?
If you’re tired of feeling like you’re climbing without moving forward, let’s talk. Together, we can design a plan that helps you invest with clarity, avoid distractions, and stay on track—no illusions required.
Contact us today HERE
