Spoiler: It’s not about predicting the next headline.

A Personal Look Back

Lately, one of my son’s favorite activities is flipping through old family photos. At just three and a half years old, his sense of “history” is pretty limited, but he’s drawn to images from the past six years: recent snapshots, pictures of himself as a baby, and our wedding album.

Watching him take in those moments sparked some reflection of my own. I’ll spare you the stories relating to my personal life and instead focus on the professional side – this is a wealth advisor’s blog, after all.

Looking back at these past six years, one theme stands out: this has been a wild ride for the markets.  In that short span, we’ve experienced three bear markets, despite the historical average being about one every five years. Each one had a different cause:

• 2020: The sudden shock of a global pandemic
• 2022: The economic pressure of rising interest rates and inflation
• 2025: Most recently, uncertainty fueled by tariffs and trade tensions

In between? A steady stream of anxiety-inducing headlines ranging from geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory shifts. It’s been loud, chaotic, and stressful.

And yet, we’re still here. Still invested. Still moving forward.

After hundreds of conversations with clients, friends, and family over the years, I’ve come to believe that these three themes were constant—and will even continue to be true in the future.

1. Headlines Are Loud. Markets Don’t Care.

Every time the market dips, headlines such as the following become louder and scarier:

• “Markets Plunge on Pandemic Fears”
• “Debt Downgrade Sparks Panic”
• “Tariffs Threaten Global Growth”

These stories are designed to capture attention and elevate stress. But here’s the truth:

Markets aren’t driven by headlines.

They’re driven by long-term catalysts like innovation, earnings, demographics, productivity growth, and the resilience of people and businesses solving problems and pushing progress forward.  Markets play the long game. Headlines don’t.

2. The Best Decisions Are the Ones You Won’t Regret

When markets fall, the impulse to act can be overwhelming. In those moments, I encourage clients to ask themselves:

“Will I regret this in five or ten years?”

• If the answer is yes, like selling after a downturn, it’s likely the wrong move.
• If the answer is no, like sticking with a long-term, diversified strategy, you’re probably on the right track.

Most fears that feel urgent today are just footnotes in hindsight.

3. Recoveries Always Feel Obvious—Afterward

Bear markets are hard. They’re emotional, unpredictable, and uncomfortable. But history has proven time and again: Markets bounce back.  There’s no grand announcement when the market hits bottom. No bell rings. It only becomes clear after the recovery is already underway.

Final Thoughts

If the past six years have taught us anything, it’s this:

• The market doesn’t reward panic
• It rewards discipline
• It rewards long-term investors who stay calm when the noise gets loud

You don’t need to predict the next crisis. You don’t need to time the next rally.  What you need is a plan, and the confidence to stick with it, even when the world feels uncertain.

Years from now, whether flipping through photo albums or reviewing your portfolio, I hope you see more than just volatility.

I hope you see:

• Progress
• Resilience
• And the value of staying the course

Our team is always here to help you stay grounded, stay focused, and stay on track.  Now and whatever comes next.

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