War headlines, surging oil prices and volatile markets can make even disciplined investors uneasy. When portfolios swing and news alerts pile up, the same question starts echoing across brokerage accounts everywhere: is it time to sell, buy or simply wait it out?
Personal finance expert Suze Orman addressed that anxiety in a recent video on her official YouTube channel. Speaking directly to viewers who feel rattled by the market environment, she opened with a blunt acknowledgment of the fear many investors are experiencing.
“These are crazy times,” Orman said. “You are scared to death. Most likely you don’t know. Should you be selling? Should you be buying? What should you be doing overall?”
The longtime financial educator said she has been flooded with emails from viewers who feel paralyzed by the headlines and unsure what to do next.
“I’m getting thousands of emails from all of you saying, ‘Suze, I don’t know what to do. We’re at war. Should I sell everything? I think I should get out of tech and get into defense,'” she told viewers.
To unpack those concerns, she invited market strategist Keith Fitzgerald back to the program.
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“This Is Not Our First Rodeo”
Fitzgerald began by acknowledging the emotional weight of the moment. Global conflict and economic uncertainty are not abstract headlines for many families, he said, including his own.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t feel the angst too,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m a father, I’m a husband. We’re a military family. This stuff is for real.”
Even so, he told Orman that history shows markets have endured similar shocks before.
“This is not our first rodeo, Suze,” Fitzgerald said.
He pointed to several examples from recent decades where geopolitical events rattled markets but did not permanently derail them.
After the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, markets closed for four days and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) exchange-traded fund dropped 11.6% in a single week. Yet the market bottomed on Sept. 21 and had recovered 21.2% within 10 weeks, according to Fitzgerald.
In 2003, the U.S. invasion of Iraq came after stocks had already fallen 14.7% leading up to the conflict. Over the following year, markets rallied 27%.
Fitzgerald also referenced the 2020 strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Markets initially reacted to the tensions, but the S&P 500 eventually surged 67% in the months that followed.
“History shows there has never in recorded human history been a war for which the markets have not come back,” Fitzgerald said.
The larger risk for investors, he added, is often the emotional impulse to act quickly.
“Every investor who sells out now is making an emotional decision under the guise of being rational,” Fitzgerald said.
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Why Oil And Defense Stocks Are Suddenly On Everyone’s Mind
Many of the emails from viewers Orman referenced revolve around a specific shift investors are considering. Some viewers told her they are thinking about dumping technology stocks and moving into sectors tied more closely to global conflict.
With oil prices climbing again, energy stocks quickly entered the conversation.
When asked whether investors should be buying oil companies, Fitzgerald cautioned against chasing the commodity itself.
“You don’t want to chase oil for oil’s sake,” Fitzgerald said. “What you want to do is chase oil with great companies that produce it, store it and move it.”
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As an example, he pointed to Chevron (NYSE:CVX) as a company that operates across the entire energy chain.
“A company like Chevron can make money at $30 a barrel and it can make money at $100 a barrel,” Fitzgerald said.
He added that strong dividend payments can help investors maintain income during volatile periods.
“I like stability. I like growth. I like being able to sleep at night,” Fitzgerald said. “And most of all, I really like the dividend because that’s cold hard cash.”
The Simple Research Step Many Investors Skip
Orman also pressed Fitzgerald to name a defense company he personally favors. His answer was Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT).
“My favorite bar none is going to be Lockheed Martin because of the way the company operates,” Fitzgerald said.
Rather than focusing only on stock tickers, Fitzgerald repeatedly urged viewers to understand the businesses behind the shares they own.
One place to start, he said, is the company’s annual report.
“Go right to the company,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s going to be a section on the website that says investor relations. Pull up the most recent annual report and read through it.”
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Those reports can provide quick insight into a company’s debt levels, leadership and overall business structure.
“Annual reports will give you an instant snapshot of where the company is,” Fitzgerald said.
Orman said learning how to find that information is part of building financial confidence.
“What happens to your money directly affects the quality of your life,” she said.
Keeping A Level Head When Markets Feel Chaotic
Market shocks have a way of amplifying fear, especially when geopolitical events dominate the news cycle. The discussion between Orman and Fitzgerald centered on the idea that understanding history and the fundamentals behind companies may help investors avoid reacting purely out of panic.
For individuals feeling uncertain about their own portfolios, staying informed can be helpful, but every investor’s financial picture and risk tolerance are different.
Because of that, many people choose to review their holdings with a qualified financial professional who can walk through their goals, time horizon and comfort level during volatile markets. Conversations like that can help investors make decisions that align with their personal financial situation rather than reacting solely to the latest headline.
For readers looking to take control of their investments, platforms like Public provide access to stocks, ETFs, and sector-focused companies, along with tools to research fundamentals and track market trends. Using a platform like this can help investors make informed decisions during periods of volatility, rather than reacting impulsively to headlines.
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This article Suze Orman Says 'You're Scared To Death' And Wondering Should You Sell Tech Stocks for Defense & Oil? — Remember, 'This Is Not Our First Rodeo' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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