08/26/2026
This may surprise you: the S&P 500 fell almost 10% earlier this year.
In February and March, markets got uncomfortable.
Headlines got worse.
Portfolios dropped.
And for some investors, the temptation was simple:
“Maybe I should get out and wait until things calm down.”
Fast-forward a few months.
Since its March low, the S&P 500 has recovered by roughly 21%.
Think about that for a second.
Two investors could have started 2026 with essentially the same portfolio, the same long-term objective and the same investment horizon…
Yet today, their results could look very different.
Not because one of them predicted the market better.
Because one stayed with the plan while the other let fear change it.
That's the problem with short-term panic.
When markets are falling, you can see the decline.
What you can't see is when the recovery will begin.
And by the time things feel comfortable again, markets may already have moved significantly higher.
If you're still accumulating, downturns can even create opportunities to invest at lower prices.
That doesn't mean you should never change your investments. If your goals, financial situation, time horizon or tolerance for risk have changed, your strategy may need to change too.
But if your goal hasn't changed and your plan hasn't changed...
Should a few difficult months determine a decision that was designed for the next 10, 20 or 30 years?
Don't abandon a long-term plan because of a short-term emotion.
And sometimes, that's one of the most valuable things a financial advisor can offer.
Not a prediction of what the market will do next.
Perspective.
A reminder from someone who isn't emotionally attached to your portfolio that periods like these are part of long-term investing — and that your decisions should still be based on your plan, not today's headlines.
If you feel like market movements are making you question your strategy, send me a private message. We can have a conversation and take a step back from the noise.
