Markets are once again flirting with all-time highs. For some investors, it feels like the thrilling climb of a roller coaster. For others—especially those still recovering from recent dips—it feels like that slow, anxiety-inducing ascent before the next big drop. But here’s the truth: volatility is not the enemy. It’s part of the ride.

Whether the market is setting new records or pulling back, short-term moves are never the full story. What matters isn’t where we are in the cycle—but how you behave throughout it.

The Market Has Seen This Before

Despite numerous bear markets over the last century—including the crash of 2008, the COVID drop of 2020, and the tech wreck of the early 2000s—markets have always rebounded. Always.

– The 2008–09 crisis saw the S&P 500 fall 57%… and then double in the 48 months that followed.
– The 2020 COVID crash bottomed in March—and by the end of the year, the S&P was up 16%.
– Even in the brutal 2000–02 bear market, investors who stayed the course were rewarded once the dust settled.

Every single bear market has been followed by a bull market. The real challenge isn’t predicting the recovery—it’s staying invested long enough to experience it.

Where Are We Emotionally?

Take a look at the chart below from Russell Investments: The Market Cycle of Emotions.

Right now, many investors are likely hovering between relief and optimism. We’re past the fear and panic of 2022–23, and as portfolios start looking healthier, the temptation to second-guess your plan may creep in:

– “Should I sell while I’m up?”
– “Maybe I should wait for a pullback?”
– “Have we come too far, too fast?”

This kind of emotional second-guessing is exactly what derails long-term outcomes.

Remember: euphoria is the point of maximum financial risk, while despondency is the point of maximum financial opportunity. Most investors act in reverse—buying high and selling low—because they’re reacting to feelings instead of following a plan.

If you want to reach your destination, you need to stay in your seat through the highs and lows. Unbuckling mid-ride rarely ends well.

Volatility isn’t just about losses—it’s also the unpredictability of gains. The biggest up-days in market history often happen during periods of uncertainty, and they tend to cluster closely around market bottoms.

Missing just a few of those days can drastically lower long-term returns. That’s why trying to time the market is more dangerous than staying invested through the rough patches.

Time In The Market > Timing The Market

The most effective investors don’t try to sidestep volatility—they prepare for it. They diversify. They rebalance. They stay invested according to their goals, not their fears.

Whether you’re still accumulating wealth or already in retirement, the key is to have the right money in the right place:

– Long-term investments should stay invested.
– Short-term income needs should be allocated to safer, more stable assets.

This kind of “time segmentation” allows you to stay calm during downturns, knowing your immediate needs are covered while the rest of your money grows.

Final Thoughts : The Real Superpower

Market highs tend to bring out two common emotional mistakes:
1. Chasing (jumping in too late, driven by FOMO), or
2. Fleeing (selling out too early, afraid the top is in).

Avoid both.

The real superpower isn’t predicting tops or bottoms—it’s sticking to your plan through all the emotional highs and lows. Diversification, discipline, and time are your greatest allies. And they work best when you don’t get in their way.

For personalized guidance, contact me at info@financerx.ca.