If you’ve been investing over the past decade, you’ve lived through a masterclass in market resilience: global pandemics, geopolitical invasions, inflation surges, government shutdowns, and banking crises. Each time, headlines warned us—“This time it’s different.” And each time, that warning proved to be more emotion than fact.

Now, new concerns dominate the headlines: escalating tensions in the Middle East, the looming possibility of U.S. involvement in the Iran–Israel conflict, renewed tariff debates, and uncertainty over sweeping tax legislation.

So… is this time really different?

Let’s take a look back at the past ten years—at some of the most jarring events, the panic-inducing headlines, and how the markets actually performed in the aftermath. You may find that the greatest threat to long-term investors isn’t the crisis of the moment—it’s forgetting how often we’ve been here before.

1. Brexit Vote – June 2016
• Headline: “Brexit: Britain shocks world by voting to leave the EU”
— CNN, June 24, 2016
• Dow Jones: 17,400

Markets tumbled in the immediate aftermath—but rebounded within weeks. Long-term? The Dow nearly doubled in the years that followed.

2. U.S. Election Shock – November 2016
• Headline: “Markets plunge worldwide as Trump wins presidency”
— The Guardian, November 9, 2016
• Dow Jones: 18,332

After a single overnight sell-off, the market reversed and began a historic climb. “Trump Rally” entered the lexicon.

3. COVID-19 Pandemic – March 2020
• Headline: “Dow plunges 2,997 points as coronavirus collapse continues”
— CNBC, March 16, 2020
• Dow Jones: 20,188

This was the fastest bear market in history. But by August 2020, markets had recovered. By the end of 2021, the Dow was at 36,000+.

4. Capitol Riots & Political Unrest – January 2021
• Headline: “Dow closes at record high despite Capitol chaos”
— Yahoo Finance, January 6, 2021
• Dow Jones: 30,829

Even in the face of unprecedented political chaos, the markets focused on recovery, stimulus, and long-term growth.

5. Inflation & Rate Hikes Panic – June 2022
• Headline: “Stocks tumble as inflation hits 40-year high”
— Bloomberg, June 10, 2022
• Dow Jones: 31,392

Inflation fears rocked the market—but not permanently. Rate hikes were absorbed and eventually normalized.

6. Regional Bank Collapse – March 2023
• Headline: “Silicon Valley Bank collapses in biggest bank failure since 2008”
— Reuters, March 10, 2023
• Dow Jones: 31,909

Fears of systemic collapse were widespread. Yet the market stabilized, and the Fed quickly acted to prevent contagion.

7. War in the Middle East – October 2023
• Headline: “Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel”
— BBC, October 7, 2023
• Dow Jones: 33,407

Geopolitical crises often create temporary fear—but rarely result in long-term market devastation.

Despite all the chaos, the Dow climbed from around 17,000 in 2016 to over 42,000 by 2025.

Here’s a powerful truth: the average intra-year market drop is 14.1% (source: JPMorgan Asset Management). That means markets fall every year—often sharply—but more often than not, they recover and keep moving higher.

Because fear sells. “This time is different” isn’t just reporting—it’s a dramatic story that demands your attention, drives clicks, and keeps you coming back for more. But history tells a different story: the headlines change, the players shift, but the long-term trajectory of the market continues to rise.

The Real Lesson for Investors

Panic is loud. Strategy is quiet.
The most successful investors don’t get swept up in the noise—they stick to their plan, stay diversified, and keep long-term goals in focus.

Want to Protect Your Future?

The next storm will come—it always does. The key is being ready. That means focusing less on the headlines and more on what truly matters: a solid, forward-looking plan tailored to you.

At Carver Financial, we take a proactive, personalized approach to planning. We monitor your portfolio consistently and make thoughtful, customized recommendations based on your unique goals and vision.  We make adjustments that take advantage of uncertainty.

While we use cutting-edge technology to enhance your experience, we never outsource your future to an algorithm. Unlike firms that delegate portfolio management to AI, our experienced advisors work personally with you to help navigate uncertainty and pursue long-term success.

Have questions or want to review your plan? We’re here to help—because your vision is our priority.

---

Any opinions are those of Randy Carver and not necessarily those of Raymond James. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.