Good Friday… Good Times… Bad Markets

Good times... Bad markets! Today we talk about recent volatility in the market, particularly in the bond market, as there is a lot of geopolitical uncertainty that are coming with Trump’s economic moves. There may be a market downturn of up to 40% and the Fed will respond most likely respond by cutting rates, a familiar cycle in which political and monetary forces intervene to stabilize markets. Ultimately, if there's a recession, we still don't need to panic, the US markets are still strong so invest accordingly!

We discuss...

• Market volatility recently spiked to levels not seen since COVID, driven by geopolitical and fiscal uncertainty.
• Trump’s unpredictable moves reintroduced risk into the markets, which had become too complacent.
• The Fed is currently in a wait-and-see mode, which markets interpret as a lack of proactive response.
• Trump criticized the Fed for not following the ECB in cutting rates, claiming it weakens U.S. competitiveness.
• The podcast host believes the market can handle high rates and criticized Powell’s pre-election rate cut as political.
• A continued market selloff is expected, with potential drops of 30–40% in the S&P 500 this year.
• If markets decline significantly, the Fed is likely to step in and cut rates to stabilize things.
• Historically, market declines have been followed by Fed intervention, which then props markets back up.
• A mild recession is likely before any recovery, but the overall economy remains fundamentally strong.
• Tariffs are currently painful for businesses but are viewed as a negotiation tactic rather than a permanent fixture.
• Markets dislike uncertainty, and the next six months are expected to be rocky before clarity returns.
• Keeping cash on hand is advised to take advantage of potential lower asset prices
• Americans are generally uncomfortable with negotiation and volatility compared to the rest of the world.
• Manufacturing may not fully return to the U.S., but diversification is critical for national security.
• Time dilation and recency bias cause people to misjudge the permanence of current events like tariffs.
• Leaders like Trump and Powell are motivated by legacy, not destruction.
• A stronger dollar could hurt gold and hard assets but elevate the U.S. as the most stable economy.
• Investors should routinely reassess their holdings to see if they would still buy them today.
• Always identify the potential exit point for any investment to manage risk.

 

Today's Panelists:

Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
Douglas Heagren | ProCollege Planners

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For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/good-times-bad-markets-705