Investing during volatility can feel like running toward a fire when everyone else is sprinting away. But counterintuitive as it may be, history shows that down markets tend to recover and reward those who bought through the pain. Of course, it’s one thing to say “buy the dip” and another to actually formulate a disciplined strategy to pinpoint opportunities and mitigate timing risk. In this piece, we’ll not only discuss the challenges of market volatility but also compare three common responses to a downturn — buying more, doing nothing, and fully liquidating — and show how each has played out over the last couple of decades. The Emotional Toll of Volatility Portfolios are personal. They’re a numerical representation of your hard work, patience, and planning. Consequently, market pullbacks sting because they directly impact your financial life. And when fear creeps in, the implse to act — to do something — can be overwhelming. That’s the emotional tax of volatility. Humans are wired to avoid pain, and when markets tumble, retreating can feel like the only rational response. That said, the flight-or-flight instinct typically leads to