Tariffs are back in the headlines—and so is market volatility. But is this a reason to panic or just another chapter in a long financial story?
In this episode of Caffeine & Cash Flow, Michael Schulte walks through five historical periods of U.S. tariffs—from the Smoot-Hawley Act of the 1930s to recent measures under Presidents Trump and Biden—and reveals how markets performed during each era.
The good news: it’s not all doom and gloom.
Using data from nearly a century of returns, Michael makes the case for staying diversified, staying invested, and staying focused on the long game. You’ll also learn how headlines can skew your perspective, why short-term reactions are often misleading, and how the most successful investors tune out the noise.
If you’re feeling uncertain about how tariffs and trade talk will impact your portfolio, this should bring some clarity and context backed by real numbers, not opinions.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
What happened during the 1930s Smoot-Hawley tariffs
How the market reacted under Nixon, Reagan, Trump, and Biden
Real performance data across five tariff periods
Why diversification and time horizon matter more than headlines
The case for ignoring market panic and sticking to your plan
Call Michael at 702-767-4897 with any of your questions or email michael.schulte@westpacwealth.com.
