By: Craig Silberg, Founding Partner at EverPar
Key Takeaways:
- A solid financial plan can anchor you through market volatility.
- Focus on what you can control, like asset allocation and spending.
- Regular communication with your advisor helps prevent emotional investing decisions.
- Measure financial success in decades, not quarters.
As we cross the halfway point of 2025, I find myself reflecting not on where the S&P 500 closed or what yields are doing but instead on the enduring power of generational wealth planning. As family wealth stewards, our clients understand that true financial success is measured in the legacy we build for the future, not short-term predictions.
Yes, the first half of the year brought plenty of confusion and uncertainty. Tariff discussions dominated headlines, geopolitical tensions created market volatility, and everyone seemed to have a prediction about what would happen next.
But here’s what we’ve learned from working with families across multiple market cycles: there’s always something new creating uncertainty. The headlines change, but the fundamental challenge remains, how do you stay focused on what truly matters for your family’s long-term wealth when the noise of daily market movements tries to pull your attention away?
The real challenge isn’t market volatility
What we’ve experienced over the past six months isn’t unique. Markets go through volatility regularly, and new concerns will always be on the horizon. The financial landscape is constantly shifting, whether due to trade policies, conflicts in the Middle East affecting oil prices, or economic data that doesn’t meet expectations.
The real challenge isn’t predicting these events, it’s managing your response to them. This is where the value of comprehensive financial planning becomes clear, and frankly, this is where we see the biggest difference between our clients and those who try to navigate their financial future alone.
Keeping a long-term perspective
At EverPar, we believe that a comprehensive financial strategy that’s been carefully crafted and consistently refined serves as your anchor in turbulent times. Then, when markets fluctuate and headlines create uncertainty, you can focus on staying aligned with your long-term vision for your family’s wealth.
We work with clients to develop detailed probability analyses that can help illustrate what rate of return a portfolio may need to work toward long-term goals (though no outcomes can be guaranteed). For example, if your plan requires a 5% average annual return over time, some years might underperform that benchmark while others will outperform. What matters is the long-term trajectory, not the daily fluctuations that dominate financial news.
For example, instead of looking at asset returns over the past year or two, we examine decades of return data to inform financial decisions. According to 97 years of market performance, stocks have outperformed other asset classes, making them a key piece of any retirement portfolio.[1]
| 97-year period (1928-2024) | |
| Investment | Average annual return |
| S&P 500 (with dividends) | 9.96% |
| Baa corporate bonds | 6.6% |
| 10-year treasury bonds | 4.8% |
| 3-month treasury bills | 3.4% |
We believe that maintaining a long-term investment perspective can help investors stay focused on their goals during periods of market uncertainty, though all investments carry risk and there are no guarantees of positive returns.
The importance of regular communication
One pattern I’ve seen throughout market cycles is how the absence of regular communication with your advisory team can lead to emotional decision-making. Without ongoing dialogue, the daily noise of financial media may cause you to make moves you wouldn’t normally consider, like buying or selling assets at the wrong moments.
We recommend regular check-ins with your team that go beyond portfolio performance. This includes:
- What’s happening in your life
- How market events might be affecting your confidence
- Whether any adjustments to your plan are warranted
In our experience, these conversations are essential to maintaining a coordinated financial strategy that continues serving your evolving needs.
How we can prepare for the unknown
The families we work with understand that if you’re in a fearful mindset, there will always be something to worry about. The key is maintaining perspective on what truly matters and focusing on what you can control for generational financial success.
This means focusing on:
- Asst allocation – We evaluate approaches that align with your risk tolerance and time horizon rather than attempting to time market movements.
- Spending vs. portfolio – We can discuss how your lifestyle goals can be sustainable, given your current and projected portfolio growth. This could mean having honest conversations about taking on additional portfolio risk, adjusting spending habits, or both.
- Your complete financial picture – We can include assets that may be added later through business sales, inheritance, or other sources. Your plan should account for these possibilities while remaining flexible enough to adapt as circumstances change.
Start taking a decades-long perspective
When thinking about your financial future, financial plans and investment lifetimes can be measured in decades, not months or quarters. Some years will provide exceptional returns while other years will disappoint, but we can never be sure which years will fall into which category.
What we can control is our emotional response through detailed planning and regular communication with your advisory team. When market volatility inevitably creates fear, having done the analytical work upfront can provide the confidence to stay the course.
The second half of 2025 will bring new challenges and opportunities. The difference for EverPar clients is that they’ll face this uncertainty with a comprehensive plan, regular communication with their advisory team, and added confidence that comes with thoughtful preparation.
Sources:
[1] https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/New_Home_Page/datafile/histretSP.html
¹ Investopedia, “S&P 500 Average Returns and Historical Performance.“
EverPar Advisors LLC (“EverPar”) is a registered investment advisor. Diversification does not ensure profit or guarantee against loss. Past performance shown is not indicative of future results, which could differ substaintally. An investment in the private investments involves significant risks and is suitable only for those persons who can bear the economic risk of loss of their entire investment and who have limited need for liquidity in their investment. There can be no assurance that the investment will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the private investment carries with it the inherent risks associated with the underlying investments. Each prospective investor should carefully review the Confidential Offering Memorandum and Limited Partnership Agreements before investing. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.