Market Jitters? History Says: Been There, Done That

If you're feeling nervous about current market conditions, it may be a good idea to print the chart in this email and pin it to your wall. It is a good reminder that stock prices see pullbacks several times during the year.

It’s a normal, healthy part of the investing cycle. Is it unsettling? Very! But when prices turn volatile, I want you to slip into your “Been there, done that” t-shirt.

The second half of February was difficult for investors–and the first part of March was not much better either. There were waves of unsettling news about tariffs, inflation, economic growth, and geopolitical events. In other words, uncertainty about the future came roaring back in a way we haven’t seen for a bit.

But was the selling unexpected? Not really. Uncertainty is exactly what markets hate to see. As businesses reassess their future plans and trends in economic data struggle to find the next path forward, we expect to markets take a pause. In fact using the past 100 years of data we know that the stock market sees a 10% pullback each year on average. 

It's important to remember that recent past performance does not guarantee future results. Stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. So, while we can look to history for trends, it’s uncertain how the rest of 2025 will unfold. 

But if you are getting anxious watching the daily price moves on Wall Street, give us a call and we can discuss how we manage the ups and downs.”