The U.S. stock market and economy are in good shape, despite a recent market sell-off and sluggish economic growth, said officials of global asset manager Natixis.

At a Manhattan news conference on Wednesday, they said they are “moderately bullish on the U.S. economy."

Natixis officials, however, said that geo-political events can always alter markets, but they are unlikely to change “the fundamental strength” of the U.S. economy.

“We think growth is going to accelerate in the fourth quarter and into 2015. It will go from 2 and half percent to maybe 3 percent, not much better than that. But it’s going in the right direction,” according to David Lafferty, senior vice president and chief market strategist for Natixis Global Asset Management-U.S. Distribution.

Lafferty said the Federal Reserve will likely raise interest rates sometime in 2015. Still, he said, the bigger monetary policy issues will be two fold: How will investors react to the inevitable tightening and why will the central bank tighten? The central bank raising rates to slow an overheating economy, growing at too fast a rate, is “a positive scenario,” Lafferty said.

The second scenario in which it would raise rates – because of inflationary pressures -- is not good, he added. He noted inflation is now running at less than 2 percent a year -- but it is a scenario “we are definitely keeping a watch on.”

What could make investors panicky?

Lafferty notes that the stock market -- as measured by the S&P 500, is up 186 percent from the market low of March 2009. But, after several years of 25 percent or better annual returns over the last five years, it is now likely that investors will be receiving “mid- to high-single-digit returns,” Lafferty predicted.

So the market slowing down, along with market shocks, could lead some investors to stray from their long-term plans, Natixis officials warn. They add this is an issue many financial professionals face.

Nine out of 10 financial advisors say investor behavior presents a top challenge, Natixis officials said, citing a recent survey of advisors.

And what spooks clients and makes them react emotionally? The effect of inflation rates on their portfolios.

“When investors make emotional decisions, they decrease the odds of reaching their financial goals,” says John Hailer, chief executive officer of Natixis Global Asset Management in the Americas and Asia.

What should advisors do about expected higher interest rates and world events that worry clients?

“Financial advisors cannot control the markets,” Hailer adds. “But they can head off adverse reactions by creating portfolios designed to stand up in a variety of market conditions. Just as important, they can work with clients to agree on what to do before market-changing events occur. By doing this, they can help take the emotions out of investing.”

Still, Hailer conceded that taking emotions out of investing is a difficult task.

One way to shield investors from panicking during stressful times, adds Tracey Flaherty, senior vice president of government relations & retirement services, Natixis Global Asset Management, is to provide clients with “personal benchmarks.”

These are “goals based benchmarks” and would be based on personal objectives. They would not be tied to a market index.

The Natixis study found that “84 percent of advisors agree that their clients would be happy if they achieved their investment goals over a year, even if their portfolio underperformed the market.”