Throughout most of 2025, Wall Street has been a rollercoaster ride that few retirees are enjoying. Following the announcement of new tariffs on several global trade partners, the S&P 500 market value dropped $2.4 trillion in one day. A week later, the S&P 500 saw historic gains after President Trump announced a 90-day pause on some tariffs.
These wild swings have left many investors nervous and fearful of more volatility. While we can’t control the economy or the markets, we can plan for uncertainty and set up safeguards to help minimize the potential impact on your finances. Our customized financial roadmaps use the best investments for each individual situation, and we lean on several key strategies to help our clients withstand economic uncertainty.
Proactive Strategy
We don’t wait for market volatility to happen; we plan for it. Considering how your plan will perform in both the best and worst of times helps ensure your long-term goals can be met, no matter what the future brings. We use shock testing to run your financial plan through hypothetical scenarios, which helps us identify and address potential weaknesses long before you face them. From dying early or living longer to increased inflation and bear markets, we test out several events to see how your long-term success could be impacted.
Risk Evaluation
When creating your investment strategy, we carefully consider your personal risk tolerance. No one wants to spend retirement worrying about their investments, so we try to avoid taking on more risk than you’re willing to take. We want you to be confident in your plan, and we strive to be transparent to help you understand the “why” behind every decision.
Your retirement time horizon also impacts how much risk you should take on. Younger investors have years to recover from market volatility, but those who are close to retirement or already enjoying their golden years should generally be less exposed to the markets. We adjust your financial roadmap through each stage of life to help you prepare for the next.
Regular Updates
Shock testing your financial plan is not a one-time ordeal. At minimum, we check your plans annually to make sure they’re still in alignment with your goals. Life is constantly changing, financial goals can shift and the economy might pivot in any given year — no matter what happens, we do what we can to keep you on track.
Your accounts are monitored daily with award-winning technology. Our passion for research means we’re working to consistently analyze your returns, and our attention to detail allows us to adjust different aspects of your financial roadmap to get you closer to your goals.
From the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to the COVID-19 economic slowdown, we’ve helped hundreds of clients retire successfully amid economic uncertainty. While it can be scary to see the headlines of historic highs and lows on Wall Street, it’s important to remain calm and remember that we are experienced advisors. You can trust we will put your needs first, at all times and in every decision.
If you would like to get in touch with Tim or Amanda to talk about your financial roadmap or learn how we can help you have more security in retirement, click here.
The views stated in this letter are not necessarily the opinion of Cetera Investment Services LLC and should not be construed directly or indirectly as an offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned herein. Due to volatility within the markets mentioned, opinions are subject to change without notice. Information is based on sources believed to be reliable; however, their accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Past performance does not guarantee future results. S&P 500 – A capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.