Tariffs, Uncertainty, and the Temptation to “Do Something”

Lately, tariffs have been dominating the headlines again, and with them come the usual investor concerns: What will this mean for my portfolio? Should we be making adjustments?

It’s completely natural to feel that way. The urge to do something when faced with uncertainty is strong—whether it’s adjusting a portfolio, moving to cash, or jumping into whatever investment feels like the “right move” at the time. But time and again, history has shown us that reacting to news rarely leads to better results.

The Difference Between What’s Sexy and What Works

There are two ways to invest.

One is the “sexy” way—constantly shifting strategies, chasing trends, and making moves in response to every new piece of economic or political news. It feels exciting, like being ahead of the game. But more often than not, it’s just expensive, stressful, and ineffective.

The other way—the way that actually works—is sticking to an evidence-based, globally diversified investment approach that’s designed for the long term. This means ignoring short-term noise, resisting emotional reactions, and keeping your portfolio aligned with your personal goals rather than the latest market frenzy.

We don’t build portfolios based on predictions about what will happen next in politics, trade, or the economy. Instead, we build them to work in all conditions—so that when big events like tariffs or elections happen, we don’t need to make drastic changes.

Markets Adapt Faster Than You Think

By the time a big event—like new tariffs—is announced, the market has often already priced it in. That means trying to react after the fact is like showing up to a party when everyone else is already leaving.

Consider this: When tariffs were introduced during the 2018–2019 U.S.-China trade disputes, many assumed it would tank stock markets. Yet, both the U.S. and China saw strong market returns over that period. Why? Because markets don’t move on headlines—they move on expectations.

This is why market timing doesn’t work. By the time you feel the need to act, it’s often too late to gain any advantage.

Long-Term Success Over Short-Term Moves

Politicians make decisions that look good in the moment—often to boost poll numbers—without always considering the long-term consequences. Investors can fall into the same trap, making moves that feel good today but don’t actually help them in the long run.

Our job is to help you avoid that mistake. We don’t make investment recommendations based on what’s grabbing headlines. We make them based on what history, data, and experience tell us actually works. And what works? Diversification, discipline, and sticking to a plan that’s built for long-term success.

Stay the Course—Your Plan Is Built for This

Tariffs will come and go. So will elections, recessions, and market swings. But none of them change the fundamental principles of successful investing.

Your portfolio was designed with uncertainty in mind, and as long as your goals haven’t changed, there’s no reason to change your strategy. We’re not here to chase trends or react to noise. We’re here to help you achieve financial freedom, not just today, but for decades to come.

We also know that in times like these, you may hear from friends or family who are making changes—moving money around, jumping in and out of stocks, or following an advisor who insists they have a way to “get ahead” of tariffs. It can be tempting to wonder if they know something you don’t.

But more often than not, these moves aren’t about achieving better results—they’re about feeling like they’re doing something. And in many cases, advisors pushing big portfolio changes aren’t following the evidence; they’re trying to justify their role by appearing proactive.

So if you find yourself in those conversations, you can feel confident that you are setup for success and sticking to a plan based on your situation and the science of investing. And if someone you know is feeling uncertain or wondering if their investments are being managed with long-term success in mind, we would welcome an introduction to our team and an opportunity for them to be sure they are on the right track by engaging in one of our Strategy Sessions.

At the end of the day, it’s not about reacting to headlines. It’s about having a plan you trust, and an advisor who keeps you on track. That’s what we’re here for.