My Portfolio Is Officially a Sea of Red — Here’s What I Did

It’s been a rough week. But these are the rules that helped me keep my cool.

Photo by Sam Williams on Unsplash

This week has been a roller coaster.

Yes, I’m talking about the stock market.

Since Donald Trump returned to office, the market’s been spinning with every comment he makes.

I find myself genuinely worried about what he’ll say next — and how it’ll ripple across the world.

My superannuation fund dropped 20%.

The Aussie dollar hit another low.

And my brokerage app? A sea of red.

As much as I told myself it’ll be alright, I panicked. I felt upset.

And that’s normal. We all do. We’re human.

We worked hard for our money. We gave up little luxuries so we could invest for a better future.

So when our savings diminish because of one man’s behaviour, it’s hard not to feel rattled.

My immediate reaction was: What should I do to minimise the damage?

But here’s what I’ve learned about myself: every time I make a rushed decision out of panic or pressure, it never ends well.

So over time, I’ve figured out a few ways to stop myself from reacting emotionally when the market dips — especially during weeks like this one.

If you’re feeling anxious too, I hope these rules help you as much as they help me.

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Here’s what I do when the market drops:

1. I do nothing. Literally.

It sounds too simple — but that’s the point. Unless I’m absolutely sure of a decision, I sit still.

Market drops aren’t the end of the world — they’re part of the cycle. Just like you wouldn’t freak out about a rainy day because you know the sun is going to come out again.

2. I prepare for crashes when the market is calm.

When things are going well, I ask myself: If the market dropped 20% tomorrow, what would I do?

That way, I’ve already decided when I’m clear-headed — not in the middle of chaos.

One thing I always do is diversify my money. I don’t invest everything into the stock market.

I also keep some cash. So should you.

3. I reframe the story I’m telling myself.

Instead of:

“Oh no, I’m losing so much money...”

I tell myself:

“Stocks are on sale right now.”

Instead of:

“This time is different. The market’s crashing hard.”

I remind myself:

“Every crash has felt different — but the market has always recovered.”

This week is a perfect example.

VOO, the S&P 500 ETF, hit a high in January and February. It has since pulled back a little. But after Trump announced new tariffs on April 2, it started dropping fast — breaking the $500 mark for the first time since August last year.

I have VOO in my portfolio, and it has served me well since I bought it at a lower price. And now, the ETF is at a discounted price — I’m looking for the opportunity to buy some more.

We’ve seen the dot-com bust, the 2008 crash, the COVID drop — and every single time, the market came back.

Not immediately. But eventually.

I think of it like turbulence. I might grip the seat for a bit, but I know turbulence doesn’t crash planes.

And once it passes, the journey continues.

4. I stop checking my portfolio.

Refreshing the app 10 times a day doesn’t help. It just fuels the fear.

So I close it. I go for a walk. I focus on something else.

This week, work has been insanely busy — which really helped distract me from thinking about my portfolio.

Because the truth is: I only lose money if I sell.

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Final thoughts

If you’re scared — I get it. Me too.

And honestly, I don’t know what next week’s market will look like.

Will it be another roller coaster ride?

Will it finally settle a little?

Or will Mr. Trump say something else and send the market spinning again?

Who knows.

But one thing I do know is: panic doesn’t protect you. A plan does.

So pause. Zoom out. Trust your process.

And remember:

“Don’t just do something. Sit there.” – Jack Bogle

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I’m on a mission to empower all the late starters to build a better financial future. You’re only too late if you never start.

For years, I spent mindlessly, assuming things would work out. Now I look back and wish I had: Saved more, Invested earlier and been intentional with my money. If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or unsure where to start, you’re not alone. Let’s figure this out together.

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Disclaimer: Information shared in this newsletter is not financial advice. Always do your own research before making any financial decisions.

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