Uncertainty may dominate the headlines—but it doesn’t have to dominate your financial decisions. In this insightful episode of Your Life and Money, hosts Brad Smith and Tim Borody dig into the real-world lessons learned from decades of market ups and downs, including recent volatility, and why life-centered planning remains the most effective tool in your financial toolkit.

Drawing from real client stories and historical market shocks—from 9/11 to 2025's tariff turbulence—they explore how patience, true diversification, and clear financial plans help investors stay grounded when the world feels anything but.

Here’s what we unpack in this episode:

• How to stay steady during market volatility by sticking to a values-driven financial plan
• Real examples of past crises (like 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash) and what they teach us today
• The danger of “recency bias” and why emotional investing rarely ends well
• What true diversification looks like—and why most investors aren’t as diversified as they think
• The power of incorporating private investments (real estate, credit, equity) for stability and consistent returns
• Questions to ask yourself and your advisor about your actual risk tolerance
• How pension-style investing provides both peace of mind and performance in uncertain times

Why it matters:

This episode is packed with practical insights that can help you rethink not just how you invest, but why you invest the way you do. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just trying to make smarter decisions in volatile times, you’ll walk away with tools to help you plan with purpose and confidence.