Published: July 21, 2026

When markets become volatile, it can feel like every headline is telling you to do something.

Sell before it gets worse.
Wait until things calm down.
Buy back in when the timing feels right.
It sounds reasonable.
The problem is that market timing rarely works the way we hope it will.

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The Hardest Part of Investing Isn't Picking Investments

After working with individuals and families throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley, we've found that successful investing is often less about choosing the perfect investment and more about managing emotions during uncertain times.

When markets fall, fear naturally takes over.

The challenge is that markets don't send invitations when they're ready to recover. Some of the strongest days in market history have happened shortly after some of the worst.

Miss just a handful of those recovery days, and long-term results can look dramatically different.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Research from DALBAR, which has studied investor behavior for decades, found that investors who reacted to changing market conditions accumulated approximately 22% less wealth over a 20-year period than investors who remained invested.¹

The difference wasn't necessarily better investments.

It was better behavior.

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Why Having a Plan Matters

When markets are rising, it's easy to feel confident. The real test comes when they're falling. That's when emotions can begin replacing strategy. That's also why having a written financial plan can be so valuable. Instead of making decisions based on today's headlines, you're making decisions based on goals that may still be years or even decades away.

 

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Connor's Perspective

One of the biggest parts of my job isn't telling clients what the market did today. It's helping them remember why they invested in the first place. Your financial plan was built with market ups and downs in mind. During periods of volatility, staying focused on your long-term goals is often the most important decision you can make."
– Connor McCreary, Financial Advisor

Stay Focused on What You Can Control

No one knows exactly what the market will do next.

What you can control is how you respond.

• Continue saving.
• Review your financial plan.
• Stay diversified.
• Ask questions when you're uncertain.

Those decisions have historically had a much greater impact on long-term success than trying to predict the next market move.

If recent market volatility has raised questions about your investment strategy or retirement plan, we'd welcome the opportunity to talk through your concerns and help you stay focused on what matters most.
Schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our advisors.

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Hall Financial Advisors is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA / SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. #1132659 Exp 08.2027

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Conner McCreary and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

Sources: DALBAR, Inc. (2025, March 31). Investors missed the best of 2024's market gains, latest DALBAR Investor Behavior Report finds. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/investors-missed-the-best-of-2024s-market-gains-latest-dalbar-investor-behavior-report-finds-302416023.html

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