Alongside continuing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, President Trump has added to global uncertainty so far in 2025. According to the Guardian, the president’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs and levies wiped $2.5tn off Wall Street and increased the likelihood of a global economic downturn.

The “noise” of geopolitics and world affairs might seem particularly loud of late. Sensationalist headlines and constant notifications can add to the worry you feel.

But it’s important to remain calm and unemotional and to avoid any knee-jerk reactions where your investments are concerned.

Keep reading to find out why staying focused on the long-term goal is key and how to block out the noise.

1. If you’re worried about global news, try limiting your exposure to it

While no one is advocating burying your head in the sand and pretending everything is ok, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a step back once in a while.

Headlines are designed to grab your attention, and bad news sells. Social media and the apps on your phone are also designed to keep you logged in and using them, and that could see you caught in a cycle of doomscrolling negativity. Understandably, this can affect your mood, your wellbeing, and your decision-making.

Consider turning off notifications or giving yourself times of the day that are device-free.

2. Your investment is long term, so daily check-ins can do more harm than good

Whatever the cause of short-term market volatility, it is to be expected. So much so that it’s built into your plan – it’s the reason your investments are long term in the first place.

It stands to reason, then, that daily check-ins will highlight short-term rises and falls without allowing you to see the bigger long-term picture.

This can cause several problems, as seen in points 3 and 4 below.

3. “It’s time in the market, not timing the market that counts”

You’ve likely heard us say this before, but it’s vital to remember it, especially in periods of short-term volatility.

Emotive headlines and daily check-ins could lead you to make emotional decisions and knee-jerk reactions. But these are generally a bad idea.

By withdrawing invested funds when markets fall, you turn a paper loss into a real one. It also means your money won’t be there when markets recover, as history tells us they will. This represents an opportunity cost both in terms of potential lost investment returns and compound growth.

4. You might be more susceptible to your own emotional biases when markets fall

When stock market values plummet, it is easier for subconscious biases to take control.

These might include:

• Confirmation bias, which sees you seek out and read only the news and information that backs up a position you already hold. If you think the market is going to fall further, you’ll pay more attention to reports that agree with you, which could impact your decision-making.
• Loss aversion is a human trait that means you’ll feel the pain of a loss more strongly than you’ll enjoy the positive emotional effect of a gain. This might see you place too much emphasis on avoiding gains when you should be concentrating more long term.
• Herd mentality or trend-chasing bias could see you following the crowd, buying or selling shares in line with the latest fads. This can be damaging because these trends might not align with your risk profile, time frames, or capacity for loss.

Staying calm is key to long-term investing, so always take a step back before you make a decision and be sure to speak to us.

5. Stay focused on your plan and remember the upward trend of the markets

Your plan is aligned with your goals, and your investments are diversified to spread risk based on your risk profile and capacity for loss. Your long-term time frame is designed to give your funds time to recover from temporary blips, so remaining focused on your goals is key.

While past performance is no guarantee of the future, it is clear that historically, markets have trended upwards. That means that short-term drops are generally followed by larger recoveries that last longer.

While it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the barrage of constant bad news and alarming headlines, remember that if your goal hasn’t changed, then your plans don’t need to either.

Get in touch

At Future Planning, we’re always on hand to provide reassurance, and we’re constantly reviewing markets and sectors on your behalf. If you would like to discuss your investments or any other aspect of your long-term financial plans, please email enquiries@futureplanningwm.co.uk or call 01793 575553.

Please note

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up, and you may not get back the full amount you invested. You could lose your investment. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Levels, bases of and reliefs from taxation may be subject to change, and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor.

This article is for information only. Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.