When the Markets Get Noisy: Staying the Course in an Uncertain World

Jennifer Jackson | March 2026 | Money · Lifestyle · Financial Literacy

There’s a particular kind of financial anxiety that surfaces when headlines get loud. You’ve worked hard for decades, built a life you’re proud of, and perhaps you’re now closer to retirement than you’ve ever been. Then you open your phone one morning and the news is full of tariffs, trade disruptions, and market swings. It can feel unsettling, even for the most seasoned investors.

I want to talk about that feeling, and what to do with it.

The Headlines Are Loud. Your Plan Should Be Louder.

Market volatility is not new. What feels different today is the speed at which information and misinformation reaches us. Between social media, 24-hour news cycles, and AI-generated commentary, it’s increasingly difficult to separate signal from noise. What I see in my practice is that the clients who navigate turbulence best are not the ones with the most complex portfolios. They’re the ones with the clearest plans.

A well-constructed retirement plan isn’t built for the good times only. It’s designed to absorb shocks, adapt to change, and keep you moving toward what matters most whether that’s retiring at 55, funding a grandchild’s education, or spending three months abroad each year.

What Tariffs and Trade Uncertainty Mean for Canadian Investors

Canada’s economic relationship with our neighbours to the south has always had its complications, but recent trade tensions have added a layer of complexity that many of my clients are watching closely. The impact of tariffs on specific sectors manufacturing, agriculture, and technology among them can ripple through investment portfolios in ways that aren’t always immediately visible.

For professionals who’ve spent careers at companies like General Dynamics, 3M, or in the tech sector, this isn’t abstract. These are industries with real exposure to cross-border trade dynamics. That’s precisely why the work we do together reviewing your asset allocation, stress-testing your plan against various economic scenarios, and ensuring your income streams are diversified isn’t a once-a-year exercise. It’s an ongoing conversation.

The Biggest Risk Isn’t the Market It’s Your Reaction to It

I say this with great respect, because I understand that watching a portfolio decline on paper is genuinely uncomfortable. But the data is consistent: investors who make emotional decisions during downturns selling at the wrong time, moving to cash, abandoning a long-term strategy — tend to lock in losses and miss the recovery.

If you’re ten years from retirement, a market correction is difficult but manageable with the right plan. If you’re two years from retirement, the picture requires more careful management which is exactly the kind of detailed cash flow modelling we specialize in. The question isn’t just “what is the market doing?” It’s “what does this mean for my retirement, my pension decision, my income?”

What You Can Control

When everything around you feels uncertain, there’s real comfort in returning to what you can influence. Right now, that might mean:

Reviewing your pension decision timeline. If you’re nearing an early retirement window, understanding whether to commute or defer your defined benefit pension becomes even more important in a period of market fluctuation. Interest rates, market conditions, and your personal circumstances all play a role.

Revisiting your tax strategy. Volatile markets can actually create planning opportunities from tax-loss harvesting to strategic RRSP and TFSA contributions. These are moments where proactive advice can make a meaningful difference.

Checking your risk tolerance honestly. Not the risk tolerance you had five years ago, but the one you have today. Life changes. Priorities shift. Your portfolio should reflect who you are now, not who you were when you first invested.

A Word on Staying Calm

I’ve been doing this work for a long time, and one thing I’ve come to appreciate is that our clients don’t just need financial advice in moments of uncertainty they need someone to talk to. Someone who has seen cycles before, who knows your whole picture, and who can help you think clearly when emotions run high.

That is, perhaps, the most valuable part of what we do. Not the spreadsheets though those matter but the relationship. The trust. The ability to pick up the phone and ask, “Should I be worried?”

The answer, more often than not, is: not if we’ve planned well. And we have.

Jennifer Jackson is a Senior Wealth Advisor and lead of The Jackson Group at CIBC Private Wealth in London, Ontario. She specializes in lifestyle-integrated financial planning and early retirement strategies for professionals. To connect, visit jenniferjackson.ca or call (519) 640-7643.