Microsoft has asked me to run a short webinar on Friday to talk about tax planning, RSU’s and investing (and some other key concerns people have) so I am invited as a guest speaker on the 4th of April. One of the topics I will cover is: the headlines lately.

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Market selloffs. Recession whispers. Fresh tariffs and a maniac ruling the most powerful country in the world. Uncertainty layered upon uncertainty.

 

It’s enough to make even the most seasoned investor feel a little anxious.
 

But let’s step back from the noise for a moment. Breathe. Zoom out.
 

Because for tech professionals like you—navigating equity compensation, demanding careers, and dreams of early financial freedom—the real question isn’t “what’s happening?” but “how should I respond?”.
 

Where I come from, being proactive is everything!

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The Market Is Stressed out. So Are You. That’s Okay.

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n the past few weeks:
 

 

• Major investment firms issued warnings about economic uncertainty.

• The Nasdaq had its worst day since 2022.

• Even beloved tech giants like Tesla and Nvidia saw sharp declines.

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How about your RSU’s and ESPP?
 

Probably dropped by 10%-20% (Are you still capturing your wealth in 1 company stock?)

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On the surface, it feels like everything is shaking. Yes, it’s unsettling. But it’s not unprecedented.
 

But here’s what isn’t shaking: your goals. Your long-term plan. The life you’re building beyond the next market dip.

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Why Predictions Aren’t the Answer

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When uncertainty strikes, we look for clarity. We tune into experts. We crave certainty.
 

But as legendary investor Howard Marks once said:
 

"You can’t predict. You can prepare."
 

That’s the difference between those who panic and those who persevere. I have seen it in 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2022 and let me tell you, cycles are inevitable.  Every once in a while, an up-or down-leg goes on for a long time and/or to a great extreme and people start to say, "this time it's different."  They cite the changes in geopolitics, institutions, technology or behaviour that have rendered the "old rules" obsolete.  They make investment decisions that extrapolate the recent trend.  And then it turns out that the old rules do still apply, and the cycle resumes.
 

Think back to 2020. No one foresaw a pandemic. Or the meteoric rise of AI stocks. Or how remote work would reshape entire industries.
 

Even the “smartest” minds didn’t see it coming. Which means you can stop trying to time perfection—and instead, plan with intention. My most successful client in the crashes are those who hold their investments or topped them up.

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Rhianna’s Story: A Lesson in Financial Resilience

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Just this week, I spoke with Rhianna (not her real name), a software engineer and long-time client. She reached out, feeling shaken. Her portfolio had dipped. The headlines were getting to her.
 

I listened. Then I gently reminded her: “Do you remember October 2023?”
 

Back then, she’d called with the same concerns. We decided not to make any sudden moves—just stick to the strategy. And guess what? Her account today is significantly higher than it was back then.
 

We didn’t predict a rebound. We prepared for one.
 

This time, we’re doing the same.
 

And that “investing muscle” she’s building? It’s going to matter even more in 2035, when a $200K drop might look like $20K. Because the stakes rise as your wealth grows.

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So, What Now? You Choose.

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When the world wobbles, you get to decide where your focus goes.
 

Option A: Spiral into the media frenzy. Obsess over every dip. React emotionally.
 

Option B: Zoom out. Think in decades. Re-anchor to your why.
 

Because if you’re like most of my clients, you’re not investing for the next quarter—you’re investing for your kids’ future. For financial independence. For the freedom to walk away from a job when it no longer lights you up.
 

On the first graph (A): the daily movement of the market in 30 days.
 

On the second graph (B): The movement in the last 30 years.
 

When we focus on the long term, it’s always an upward trending pattern.​​​