You want to build lasting wealth, but every day brings another scary financial headline.
In July 2025, markets have experienced significant volatility as President Trump extended tariff deadlines to August 1st, creating fresh uncertainty about trade policies and their economic impact. The S&P 500 dropped nearly 1% on July 7th amid renewed tariff fears, while the VIX “fear index” has fluctuated dramatically throughout the year.
Sound familiar? Market volatility reached extreme levels in April 2025 when aggressive tariff announcements were more severe than expected, creating fears of trade wars and possible recession. With the CBOE Volatility Index swinging from 21.76 in mid-June during geopolitical tensions to 16.3 by late June, investors are experiencing the same anxiety that has plagued markets for decades.
The problem isn’t the headlines – it’s how you react to them.
The Hidden Cost of Fear-Based Investing
Here’s what most investors don’t realize: Today’s “unprecedented” market fears are actually completely normal. Just like the James Webb Space Telescope helps us understand our universe by looking back in time, examining financial headlines from the past reveals something remarkable about market “crises.”
The Headlines Never Change
Consider these actual Time magazine covers from previous decades:
1972: “Is the U.S. Going Broke?” 1974: “Recession’s Greetings” 1980: “Is Capitalism Working?” 1990: “High Anxiety” 2008: “The New Hard Times”
Every generation thinks their financial challenges are uniquely catastrophic.
Yet despite all these “disasters,” something extraordinary happened: The U.S. economy grew from $1.5 trillion in 1974 to $29.1 trillion in 2024. The net worth of the United States reached approximately $169 trillion by Q4 2024.
The Proven Strategy That Works Through Any Crisis
The investors who built lasting wealth didn’t predict the future – they prepared for uncertainty.
As Edelman Financial Engines notes in their 2025 midyear outlook: “maintaining a well-diversified portfolio and a long-term view has been a winning strategy” through decades of market challenges.
What History Teaches Us About Bear Markets
Here’s what the last 50 years of market downturns reveal:
Every single bear market recovery rewarded patient investors who stayed the course.
While markets experienced a near-20% decline in early 2025 before rebounding to new all-time highs by June, this pattern of volatility followed by recovery has repeated consistently throughout history.
The key insight: As U.S. Bank’s Eric Freedman emphasizes, “new all-time highs are often followed by new all-time highs.”
Your Personal Economy Matters More Than Headlines
Instead of focusing on alarming news, successful investors focus on their “personal economy”: Do you still have a job? Can you still afford what you need? Can you still save for retirement?
That’s what actually determines your financial success.
Your Roadmap to Financial Confidence
The solution isn’t avoiding volatility – it’s building a strategy that thrives despite it.
Step 1: Embrace Your Risk Tolerance
Current market analysis suggests different approaches based on your comfort level: overweight value stocks (trading at a 14% discount), market-weight core stocks, but be cautious with growth stocks (trading at an 11% premium).
Step 2: Think Globally
Smart investors maintain “exposure not only across market sectors and asset classes, but also across geographies” because “you never know what’s going to lead gains in any given year.”
Step 3: Stay the Course During Headlines
“Chasing headlines or pulling out at the bottom locks in losses and erodes long-term gains,” advises risk expert Ravi de Silva. “The market will always be cyclical, and history shows those who stay disciplined fare better.”
What This Means for Your Future
The next 50 years will bring new headlines, new crises, and new “unprecedented” events.
J.P. Morgan Research expects continued volatility with their S&P 500 target of 6,000 by year-end, supported by double-digit earnings growth, but warns of “persistent policy uncertainty coupled with geopolitical risks.”
Here’s the truth successful investors know: Markets reward patience, not predictions.
Ready to Build Your Long-Term Strategy?
The key to successful investing is having a plan that works through any market condition.
Working with a financial professional can help you develop a personalized investment strategy based on your unique risk tolerance and long-term goals. Together, you can create a diversified portfolio designed to weather market storms while staying focused on what matters most to your financial future.
Want to learn more about building a resilient investment strategy? Contact us today to discuss your financial goals.
Call 866-536-5776 or email me at czehner@hbkswealth.com
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Remember: While we can’t predict what tomorrow’s headlines will say, we can prepare your portfolio for whatever comes next. The question isn’t whether there will be market volatility – it’s whether you’ll be ready for it.
Important Disclosure:
The information included in this document is for general, informational purposes only. It does not contain any investment advice and does not address any individual facts and circumstances. As such, it cannot be relied on as providing any investment advice. If you would like investment advice regarding your specific facts and circumstances, please contact a qualified financial advisor.
HBKS Wealth Advisors is not a legal or accounting firm, and does not render legal, accounting or tax advice. You should contact an attorney or CPA if you wish to receive legal, accounting or tax advice.
The historical and current information as to rules, laws, guidelines, or benefits contained in this document is a summary of information obtained from or prepared by other sources. It has not been independently verified but was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. HBKS Wealth Advisors does not guarantee the accuracy of this information and does not assume liability for any errors in information obtained from or prepared by these other sources.
Investment Advisory Services offered through HBK Sorce Advisory LLC, d.b.a. HBKS Wealth Advisors. Not FDIC Insured – Not Bank Guaranteed – May Lose Value, Including Loss of Principal – Not Insured By Any State or Federal Agency.
Additional Sources:
• Market volatility data: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, “Financial Market Volatility in the Spring of 2025”
• Current GDP figures: Statista, “Countries with the largest gross domestic product (GDP) 2024”
• Household net worth: Federal Reserve Report, “U.S. Household Net Worth Climbed to Record at End of 2024”
• Market outlook data: J.P. Morgan Research, Morningstar, Edward Jones market reports
• Recent market performance: CNBC, Investopedia financial market updates
