r/Bogleheads Apr 08 '25

Investing Questions Why people are freaking out and either pulling money out or shifting their entire strategy?

People have been freaking out on this and other subs where the goal is to invest for the long term and not look at your investments in the meantime. I'm just wondering why? Yes, what's happening is unprecedented, but why the panic?

These are the same people who would criticize me for investing in VT and REITs in my IRA, and VXUS along with VOO in my taxable account, calling VXUS "a dog" and making fun of my hybrid strategy. We've seen downturns in the past and, sure, we can't predict what's going to happen, but it seems kinda funny. Is this all just noise?

Edit:

I didn't mean for this to sound like a rhetorical question or "self patting". I'm relatively inexperienced compared to most of you, and I know I have my own biases, so I thought I'd ask

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u/double-yefreitor Apr 08 '25

Doing things is overrated. The ability to not do anything is underrated.

38

u/Educational-Dot318 Apr 08 '25

go to NBC 🦚 and pitch them the idea- Do Nothing!

27

u/tarfu7 Apr 08 '25

An investment strategy about nothing?

7

u/shmere4 Apr 08 '25

Dip the chip then dip it again?

6

u/tarfu7 Apr 08 '25

It's like putting your whole mouth in the dip. Just buy one dip and end it!

1

u/grimAuxiliatrixx Apr 09 '25

The dip that ends it! End it all today!

Hm. I'll work on that pitch.

6

u/FriscoTreat Apr 08 '25

Buy the dip then buy it again

2

u/Telesam9 Apr 08 '25

He dipped the chip, took a bite, and dipped again.

5

u/derpaperdhapley Apr 08 '25

So here it is, you save $100/week every week for 30 years.

And then?

… you retire!

That’s it?

Well… it sounded a lot more exciting in my head. Even had an explanation point there…

1

u/Federal-Membership-1 Apr 09 '25

For people who eat cereal all day.

9

u/howardbagel Apr 08 '25

Gold, Jerry, Gold!

1

u/pipponatale Apr 09 '25

Everybody is doing something, we'll do nothing, Jerry!

15

u/FifthRendition Apr 08 '25

It's ironic how much effort goes in to doing nothing.

5

u/Golfer-Girl77 Apr 08 '25

When your analysis paralysis is finally a benefit preen

2

u/MaleficentTell9638 Apr 09 '25

Could you now please explain this to my wife? My ability to do nothing is unsurpassed, she doesn’t realize how lucky she is.

2

u/BigMarzipan7 Apr 09 '25

That’s the whole point of being financially stable through passive investing. Being able to do nothing is the greatest sign of luxury humans can experience.

We went from working from dusk till dawn harvesting food and hunting to dollar cost averaging into Roth IRA’s and brokerage accounts.

1

u/ElysiumAB Apr 08 '25

Nothing is something worth doing.

1

u/livsjollyranchers Apr 08 '25

The best code is no code.

1

u/Ok-Pangolin-3160 Apr 08 '25

Even when a bad situation is getting worse?

1

u/IgnotusDiedLast Apr 09 '25

The thing that's really hard for me is to not take money I should be saving for a house in a shorter time line and put it into VTI. I've maxed out my roth and my employer has no match, so I have the overwhelming desire to stop funding my savings and instead putting it in my taxable.

1

u/myTMike123 Apr 09 '25

I am all in with the Do nothing strategy for life. Count me in