Every financial crisis feels like it’ll never end. Until it does. Our brains are playing tricks on us about “permanent” problems. 1 (Ryan Haiss, Twitter Jul. ‘25)
Past Events
- 2000: Dot-com crash wipes out $5 trillion. The internet was a fad. Tech is over. The new economy is a lie. NASDAQ fell 78%. Felt permanent. Wasn’t
- March 2008: Housing prices crater. Everyone said: “This is it. The American Dream is over. Housing will never recover.” Felt permanent. Wasn’t
- March 2020: Economy shuts down overnight. Restaurants are done. Travel is dead. No one will return to offices anymore. Unemployment hit 14.7%. The world stopped. Felt permanent. Wasn’t
Observations
- When you know how the story ends, the fear disappears
- But when you’re living it? Every crisis feels like the one that won’t end. The brain tricks you about permanence.
- We base our future expectations on what we experience in the past. Our brains fool us to thinking that the future will look like the past.
- It’s about pattern recognition – you’ve survived 100% of your worst financial days. That’s data!
- The gap between how uncertainty feels and how it actually plays out is massive
- What feels catastrophic in the moment becomes a footnote in hindsight
Lessons to be learned
- Next time financial anxiety paralyzes you, ask this: “What crisis from 5 years ago am I worried about anymore?” Your track record beats your current anxiety
- Uncertainty feels permanent when you’re living it
- Adaptation happens faster than you think
- Your resilience is stronger than your fear
The next crisis will pass. Your decisions during it matter more.
Sincerely,
Mike Busby (1-Oct-25)
THE COMMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN ISSUES INTENDED AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE OBTAIN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN, DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY MIKE BUSBY FOR THE BENEFIT OF MIKE BUSBY WHO IS A FINANACIAL ADVISOR FOR BRANDON LINDSAY INSURANCE AGENCIES, A TRADE NAME REGISTERED WITH INVESTIA FINANCIAL SERVICES INC., AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINION OF INVESTIA. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE COMES FROM SOURCES WE BELIEVE RELIABLE, BUT WE CANNOT GUARANTEE ITS ACCURACY OR RELIABILTY. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE BASED ON AN ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION DATING FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. FURTHERMORE, THEY DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION TO BUY OR SELL ANY SECURITIES. MUTUAL FUNDS OFFERED THROUGH INVESTIA FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.
