I was catching up with a friend recently who had been looking forward to retiring this year. But as we talked, he shared that he’s decided to keep working a little longer. His reason? Market uncertainty. He was worried about the ups and downs we’ve seen lately and didn’t want to risk making a mistake by retiring at the wrong time.

I totally understand where he’s coming from. Retirement isn’t just about hitting a number — it’s about feeling secure enough to walk away from a paycheck after decades of hard work. And when the markets get shaky, that security can feel fragile. When you’ve spent years building your retirement nest egg, watching the balance fluctuate can feel like a punch in the gut.

But does market volatility really mean you have to delay your retirement? Let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

The Markets Are Still Way Up (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

When markets get choppy, it’s easy to feel like you’re taking two steps forward and one step back. But zoom out, and the story looks a lot different.

Consider this: The S&P 500 hit rock bottom in March 2009, dropping to 676.53. As of March 24, 2025, it’s sitting around 5,740 — that’s a 748% increase in 16 years. And that’s just price growth. If you’ve been reinvesting dividends along the way, your total return is even higher.

Dividends don’t just pad your account with extra cash — they quietly work behind the scenes, compounding your returns over time. It’s easy to overlook that power when all you see are red numbers during a downturn.

And let’s not forget — corrections, bear markets, and recessions aren’t rare events:

• We typically see a 10% correction every two years.
• A bear market (a 20% or more drop) happens about every six years.
• Recessions? Roughly every seven years.

These downturns may feel like setbacks, but they’re really just part of the ride.

We’ve Been Here Before (And We’ll Get Through It Again)

It’s easy to feel like “this time is different,” but if history teaches us anything, it’s that the markets have a way of bouncing back — often faster than anyone expects.

Think about some of the biggest market drops in recent history:

• 2008–2009: The Great Recession wiped out more than 50% of the market’s value. Experts predicted it would take a decade to recover — but the market bounced back in just four years.
• 2020: COVID caused a 34% market drop in a little over a month — the fastest bear market on record. The recovery? Five months.
• 2022: Inflation concerns, and interest rate hikes led to a nearly 20% decline. And yet, the market eventually rebounded.

The circumstances may change, but the pattern remains the same. The market goes down, and then it comes back up — often stronger than before.

Focus on What You Can Control

Here’s the reality: You can’t control the stock market. But you can control how you prepare for uncertainty.

It’s like the weather — you can’t stop the rain, but you can grab an umbrella. You can’t avoid traffic, but you can leave early.  When it comes to your money, preparation looks like:

✅ Building a strong emergency fund — your safety net when things get rough.
✅ Maintaining a diversified portfolio — spreading your investments across different assets to soften the blow when the market dips.
✅ Sticking to your plan — resisting the urge to panic and make emotional decisions when things get bumpy.

The goal isn’t to avoid volatility — that’s impossible. The goal is to be ready for it, so you don’t have to make reactive decisions when it happens.

Does This Mean You Should Delay Retirement?

Not necessarily. If you’ve built a solid financial foundation, market volatility doesn’t have to throw off your timeline. A well-structured portfolio, a thoughtful withdrawal strategy, and a plan for adjusting during downturns can help you ride out the storm.

If you’re feeling uneasy, you’re not alone. But before making any big decisions, let’s take a step back and look at your plan with fresh eyes. Sometimes, small adjustments can give you the confidence you need to move forward — without putting your future at risk.

Want to Hear How We’re Navigating This?

If market volatility has you second-guessing your retirement plans, or if you’re curious about how we’re adjusting strategies, join us for our live quarterly market update on April 9th at noon.

You’ll hear from our head of investments, Michael Scott, CFA, and Matt Marcoux, CFP®, as they break down volatility, provide an economic and political outlook, and share expectations for the months ahead.

👉 Click here to register and secure your spot!

Remember — uncertainty may be part of the market, but it doesn’t have to derail your future. Let’s navigate this together.