Spoiler alert: No. Stay calm, stay invested, and maybe stop checking your balance for a while.
If you’ve been watching the news or logging in to check your investment portfolio lately, you might be feeling a little uneasy. The media headlines are loud (and often alarming), markets have dipped, and it all feels a bit familiar — like déjà vu from the early days of COVID-19.
But let us assure you: this is not a time to panic. This is a time to zoom out, remember the plan, and stay the course.
🧠 Here’s what’s happening
You may have seen recent news around Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies, global uncertainty, and short-term volatility across major share markets. From the February 2025 peak to now, markets have come off — and yes, that can trigger emotions.
But let’s not forget the bigger picture:
Since 2022, markets are still significantly up.
The declines we’re seeing now are modest when viewed over a longer horizon.
These kinds of dips happen — and historically, they’ve always passed.
| Market | Since 2025 High | Since End 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 (US) | -17.1% | +32.2% |
| NASDAQ | -22.3% | +48.9% |
| DAX (Germany) | -7.1% | +56.0% |
| Nikkei (Japan) | -15.7% | +29.5% |
| ASX 200 (Australia) | -10.4% | +8.9% |
| Bitcoin | -21.8% | +405.2% |
| Gold | -3.1% | +66.6% |
*Source: Bloomberg
So yes, we’re down from recent highs. But we’re still significantly up over the last 2 years — especially in global markets.
🛑 Why you shouldn’t react
This situation feels eerily familiar. When COVID hit, markets plunged. There was panic. Headlines screamed. Clients logged in daily.
But you know what? We recovered — and quickly. In fact, some of our best long-term returns came from those who stayed calm and stuck to their plan.
👉 This is the same message we gave you back then. It’s just being replayed now with different headlines.
📈 Remember this chart?
Take a moment to review the Vanguard Index Chart (2024) — the one we refer to often.
Look at any 10-year period on that chart.
Whether you start at the worst point of GFC, the COVID crash, or any other market drop, move 10 years back from that point and it is always higher…even after large downturns.
That’s the power of staying invested.
The pattern is clear: short-term noise is just that — noise. What matters is time in the market, not timing the market.
🙏 Do me a favour: stop logging in
As your adviser, I’m asking you for a favour: don’t log in to your investment portal for the next 3 months.
Seriously. Checking your balance every day right now is:
Not helpful.
Not healthy.
And certainly not going to change your strategy.
Enjoy your weekends. Focus on the things that bring joy. We’ve got this. Our investment philosophy hasn’t changed just because markets have dipped — and neither should your confidence.
🎥 Watch these several videos I shot with Bruce Williams (Elston Asset Management)
I recently sat down with Bruce Williams, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager at Elston Asset Management — the people behind the Weinberg portfolios you’re invested in. I asked Bruce about the current state of play in the market and changes to our Weinberg Portfolios. The interview went for 20 minutes, so their marketing team cut this down into 5 smaller bite size videos for you to digest:
👉 Current State of Play of Markets
👉 Take aways from the recent Budget
👉 Characteristics Elston look for to invest in a company
Bruce explains what’s happening, what Elston are doing behind the scenes, and why now is not the time to fear the headlines.
Remember:
Elston constructed and manage your portfolio.
They monitor it constantly.
They make tactical changes during the year so you don’t have to.
💡 If you have cash lying around…
Down markets = buying opportunities.
If you’re sitting on spare cash, this is when the smart money starts deploying. It’s the classic principle: buy low, sell high. Talk to us about investing any available funds — this could be a great window.
✅ Final thoughts
Market dips are normal — they’re part of investing.
We’ve been here before, and we’ll get through this again.
Your plan hasn’t changed. And neither have we.
Above all, go enjoy life. The markets will recover, as they always do. Let’s keep perspective, stay patient, and remember why we’re investing in the first place.
Stay Safe & Happy Investing,
Aaron Kane
Financial Adviser & Managing Director
EK Financial Group
