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Navigating Portfolio Volatility: A Lesson from 35,000 Feet

I’ve used this analogy before, but a recent experience brought it back to life—so vividly, I had to share it again.

I was flying to Phoenix for business when the captain came on the speaker to apologize for the delay in cabin service. “For the next 100 miles or so,” he said, “we’ll likely experience some severe turbulence. Please remain seated with your seatbelt securely fastened.”

He didn’t say anything dramatic like, “We may not make it to Phoenix.” Just a calm heads-up that things might get a little bumpy—and that service would resume once the skies smoothed out.

Sound familiar?

Woman looking out of airplane window

A Nervous Flier’s Perspective

Despite flying nearly every week, I’ll admit—I’m still a bit of a nervous flier. Some days I’m completely calm, other days, not so much. This was one of those “not so much” days.

To be honest, flying has always carried a little extra weight for me. I’m named after my maternal grandfather, who passed away in an airplane accident—his own plane. It’s not something I dwell on, but I’d be lying if I said I never think about it, especially during takeoff or turbulence.

This turbulence? It was real. The kind that makes you white-knuckle the armrests a bit.

The investment advisor in me tried to stay logical—I even calculated our airspeed and distance to estimate when we’d be through the rough air. I figured we had about 7 or 8 minutes left. I checked my watch and started dictating into my phone, trying to pass the time.

You may have been feeling something similar recently—watching the markets, holding tight, and wondering when things will calm down.

Turbulence Isn’t Danger. It’s Discomfort.

A friend recently recommended Cockpit Confidential by airline pilot Patrick Smith. It’s full of insights about air travel, including what really happens in the cockpit—and a great explanation of turbulence.

Captain Smith makes it clear: turbulence doesn’t bring down planes. But it can cause injuries and almost always causes discomfort.

That stuck with me. As a sailor, I often bounce around on rough seas without a second thought. So why does air turbulence get under my skin—even when I know we’ll land safely in Phoenix?

Because I’m human. And so are you.

And that’s why market volatility feels so uncomfortable—even when you know, intellectually, that you’ll be okay.

Volatility Is an Opportunity—Even When It’s Uncomfortable

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been buying equity in client accounts. Why? Because volatility creates opportunity. It gives us a chance to acquire equity at lower prices, knowing that when the markets recover (as they always have), we’ll be glad we did.

We’ve done this many times before—and while it’s not always comfortable, we know it works.

That said, remember how I estimated 7-8 more minutes of turbulence? Try 90. Even the captain’s original 100-mile estimate was way off. Nearly the entire flight was turbulent—longer than I’ve experienced in years.

Sometimes It Lasts Longer Than Expected

Eventually—five hours after that first announcement—we landed in Phoenix, safe and sound.

And that’s the point: turbulence often lasts longer than you’d like. It might even make you doubt the journey. But that doesn’t mean you’re not going to arrive.

Market volatility works the same way. It doesn’t necessarily threaten your long-term success, but it can test your nerves along the way. That’s normal.

So if things feel uncertain right now—if you’re gripping the metaphorical armrest—know that you’re not alone. The key is staying the course. And having a plan that allows you to ride out the rough patches with confidence.

We’re here to help you do just that.

Experiencing some financial turbulence? Connect with us to review your plan and ensure you’re on track—no matter what the markets are doing.

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