Be Brave! Or as a smart friend recently told me, “Scared money don’t make money!”

I want to help you make money. To some of you, this current market pullback feels like you’re losing money. You’re not, unless you decide to sell. Provided you don’t have an emergency and need the cash right now, odds are selling now would be a mistake.

Last April, when the tariffs were announced, a lot of people panicked. Investors dumped stocks, markets slid hard, and even some very smart people on Wall Street were predicting we were heading into a horrendous stretch for equities. They were flat wrong. Since April 1, 2025, the S&P 500 has risen about 20%, rewarding the investors who stayed calm—and especially those who bought.

If we’re being honest, our firm was urging our families and business owners to do exactly that: buy into the weakness. And buy we did. The result? Marvelous returns.

The truth is, no one can consistently predict when pullbacks will occur or how long they’ll last. But one thing you can control is your discipline. And that discipline—time-tested and wonderfully effective—is to buy during the dips.

This week’s market pullback is simply the latest chapter in a very familiar pattern. While headlines can make it feel unusual or alarming, the numbers tell a different story. Over the last 30 years, the S&P 500 has experienced an average intra-year drawdown of roughly 9–13%, even in years that finish strong. Volatility isn’t new. It isn’t rare. And it certainly isn’t a sign something is broken. It’s the normal rhythm of a market that, over time, has marched steadily higher. Over time, the market is undefeated. Let me say it again: if your time horizon is more than just a couple of years, the market is undefeated as a money maker.

At Exit Wealth®, we understand that short-term price drops often have very little to do with the long-term fundamentals of great companies. That’s why the most successful investors accumulate shares during periods of market weakness—not after the rebound. Pullbacks create temporary disconnects between price and value. In plain English: high-quality businesses go “on sale.”

What damages many everyday investors isn’t the decline itself—it’s the emotional reaction to it. Selling during a downturn is one of the biggest psychological mistakes in finance. Fear creates urgency, and urgency produces bad decisions. Investors who sell low often miss the eventual recovery, then re-enter too late—locking in losses and reducing long-term returns. Yet history is clear: markets have always recovered, and those who remain patient and disciplined are consistently rewarded.

Downturns, meanwhile, reward the savvy. Stocks are on sale! Pullbacks give patient investors a chance to buy excellent companies at discounted prices, strengthening their portfolios for the next leg higher.

This pullback is no different. It’s not a verdict on the future; it’s an opportunity. Just as in April, disciplined investors will look back and be glad they stepped in when others stepped out.

Warm Regards,

Justin Farmer

Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Exit Wealth Advisors

Emmy-winning Broadcaster Providing Financial Analysis to Media Across the Country