For subscribers
When the average investor can’t ride out the market turmoil
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Over the past few weeks, Wall Street has become increasingly pessimistic about whipsawing policies from Washington.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Danielle Kaye
After the dot.com bubble burst in the early 2000s, Mr Lars Staack decided to play it safe and invest his retirement savings in S&P 500 index funds, which are diversified and carry lower risk than owning individual stocks.
It was a strategy that brought him peace of mind for more than two decades – until US President Donald Trump was elected in November 2024. As he reviewed Mr Trump’s comments in support of sweeping tariffs, Mr Staack, 62, who retired two years ago, became increasingly uneasy about the savings he planned to use for the rest of his retirement.
