Fear, the VIX, And The Bungee Market Of 2025: Why Staying Invested Still Wins

Explore ways fear can sometimes subside in financial markets. Examine how missing the worst days, not just the best ones, can lead to less productive gains over time.

Wes and Christa analyze:

• Why 2025’s market feels more like a “bungee cord” than a rollercoaster.

• How to use the VIX (fear index) to gauge investor sentiment—and what it could mean for your investments.

• What historical spikes in fear (dot-com crash, 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19, inflation shock) might teach us about recovery patterns.

• Why most fear-filled crises eventually subside—and how to spot the turning point in hindsight.

• How central bank interventions, Fed rate changes, and global economic actions can sometimes calm markets over time.

They answer listener questions about families, retirement, and catch-up plans, including:

• How to save for retirement on one income with kids.

• If you have to take RMDs at 72 while still working. (Hint: You might not have to!).

• Why it’s okay for some to tap into their Roth IRA at age 80—and how to optimize account usage.

• How much a married couple need to cover basic expenses in retirement.

• How ETF providers profit when fees are so low.

• Revenue streams, plus the Costco hot dog strategy (yep, that’s a thing!).

• Elder Care and Safe Spending Tools.

Overall, Wes reminds folks that discipline usually means staying the course, because fear doesn’t last forever, and markets typically recover.

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