By now, you’re all probably aware that Donald Trump is officially going to be the next president of the United States. Â This isn’t a politics blog, so I’m not sharing my thoughts on the matter (plus, I’m no politics expert). Â Nor is this a blog about the economy, so I’m not going to talk about that either. Â Heck, I have no idea where the economy will go. Â Things go up, things go down. Jobs are created, jobs are lost. Â I don’t really know why it happens.
What I do know is that the doomsday prophecies are out there.  Trump is going to cause a recession!  Stocks will crash!  The rich won’t pay any more taxes! I have no idea if these are true or not.  All I can do is stay calm and stick to my game plan.
Remember, the Donald says you need strength and stamina to be president, which we all know he has in spades!  (sarcasm alert!).  But forget about the Donald’s strength and stamina.  If the worst happens, you’ll need to rely on your own strength and stamina in order to make it out unscathed.
I’ll admit, I have no empirical evidence to suggest that I won’t freak out if the worst really does happen.  When the 2008 recession hit, I was a college student, sitting on the sidelines.  I felt the direct effects of the recession for sure – I couldn’t get a real job when I graduated.  But I didn’t have any money invested in the market because I didn’t know how to invest.  I like to think that I wouldn’t have freaked out back then, but really, I don’t know.  Hindsight is 20/20, after all.
What I do know now is that freaking out isn’t the right move.  We know that individual investors tend to under perform the market.  We know that over the long term, the market will continue to go up.  So the best thing to do is not freak out.  Stay the course.  Do nothing.  You’ve got the strength and stamina to survive anything!
Here’s how I’m going to survive the Trump Presidency, or really, anyone’s presidency.
Stick To The Game Plan
I don’t believe that anyone can accurately time the market on a consistent basis.  Maybe once in a while you can get lucky, but over the long term, it just isn’t possible. There’s tons of research to support this claim.  And even if it were possible to outperform the market over the long term, the gain that you can get vs. the risk that you screw it all up doesn’t seem worth it, in my book.
Remember, if you’re trying to time the market, it means you need to time it right twice! Â You’ve got to both know when to buy and when to sell. Â And then you have to do that forever.
So stick to your game plan. Â If you’re investing regularly, just keep investing. Â If you’re young, you likely have plenty of time before you even need any money you’ve invested. Â And if you’re nearing retirement, hopefully you’ve already set aside some cash to handle any downturns and have the appropriate asset allocation for your needs.
It’s not a question of if the markets go down.  We know that will happen, no matter what.  The difference between those that survive downturns and recessions, and those that don’t are the actions you take when it’s happening.  The best thing you can do when things get tough is to stick to your game plan.  Believe in your own strength and stamina!
Make Sure You’ve Planned For the Worst
One reason I live on less than I earn isn’t just so that I can save money. It also makes it much easier to survive when the going gets tough.  So make sure you’re staying lean and mean when it comes to your finances.  This means you should avoid having too many fixed costs.  Set aside money for emergencies.  You never know when a job loss might strike or a recession might hit.  If you’re living on less than you earn and you have some money set aside, you’ll probably be okay. Disaster happens when you’re living on more than you earn and have no money.
Picking up a side hustle can also serve as a sort of emergency fund, as well as a way to diversify your income sources. Â For myself, I rent out a room on Airbnb, flip trash finds, dog sit in my spare time, and make bike deliveries. Â These are all things that can give me a cushion in the event of a worst case scenario.
Doing these things on their own won’t make me rich. Â (or maybe it can?) Â But I do know that, if the worst happens, I can probably make do on my side hustle money until I can get back on my feet.
Have Faith That People Will Keep Creating and Innovating
If you’re investing in diversified index funds, then believe in what you’ve invested in.  A total US stock market index fund or an S&P 500 fund is invested in a huge swath of the US economy.  This country has gone through wars, terrorism, oil crises, recessions, and scandals, but has always come out unscathed.  Just look at the S&P 500 chart. It’s definitely not a smooth ride, but it’s an upward ride nonetheless.
If you believe that people will continue to innovate, that productivity will increase, and that new companies will flourish, then you have to believe that the market will always go up over time.  Think about what the world looked like just a decade ago.  It’s hardly recognizable to someone today.  We didn’t have iPhones or other smart phones.  YouTube was a new thing.  Smart technology didn’t really exist.  Amazon and Google were not the behemoths that they are now.  When I was in college, I didn’t even use my laptop to take notes because my laptop was way too big and heavy to carry.  Now, people carry around tiny computers in their hands.
What do you think the world will look like in another 10 years? Â I’m willing to wager that it’ll look nothing like the world we know today. Â Imagine what type of gains the market can see during that time.
So if you’re investing in diversified index funds, remember that your investment will never go to zero! Â Sure, it can take time for it to come back. Â But it will come back one day. Â And if you keep investing and sticking to your game plan, it means that money you’ve invested while the market was down will be worth even more when the market does come back one day. Â Stick to your game plan.
You’ve got the strength and stamina to survive a Trump presidency or any other presidency!  And when 2018 and 2020 comes around, get out there and vote again.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:
- GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
- Himiway Escape Bike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Bike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (5 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (5 free stocks) – Webull also gives you 5 free stock valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- GO2Bank ($100) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $100 referral bonus.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($750) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Fifth Third Bank ($225) – This offer is limited to customers in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and South Carolina. If you don’t live in one of those states, you won’t be able to open an account online but you can still open an account in-branch if you happen to be visiting a city that has a branch. This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, especially since there are plenty of data points showing what will trigger the direct deposit requirement. In addition, you can open the Fifth Third Momentum Checking bank account, which comes with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Read my guide on this bonus here.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Netspend ($40 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $40 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $40 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Digital Federal Credit Union ($20) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($30) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $30 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $250 if you complete a direct deposit.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $750 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
- DCU. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $20 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a savings account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000.
- Personal Capital. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
After I casted my vote, I had to get back to focusing on what I can control. There are so many moving pieces and things constantly change. But a good choice is a good choice. If that is keeping my costs low, continuing to invest, trying to diversify our active and passive income, I just have to do what I can do. That also applies to my relational life. Being a good mom, and wife. Being a good friend and neighbor. Helping people in my community. Volunteering and donating. One person (even the president) can’t fix everything. We all have to invest in the areas we want to see change and progress.
Good point on focusing on what you can control. You’ve got your own game plan and your own values. You’ve gotta stick to it because that’s something you can control.
Nobody knows what the future will hold. But this country and economy has been through a lot in the past. New innovations and technologies that no one could have expected sprung up and drove the economy in times when some people thought it would stagnate. Great post, and regardless of the election results, let’s hope we all have a healthy, wealthy future.
Cheers,
Mr CK
Cheers to that man! Whatever happens in the near term, I’ve gotta believe that we’ll continue to improve in terms of inventions, productivity, technology, etc. If I believe that, then I also have to believe that investing and sticking with it is the way to go.
Great and timely post, FP! Like you, I was on the sidelines when the 2008 financial crisis hit, so I don’t know how I’ll react in a bear market or recession. But as you said, it’s all about sticking with your financial plan, having diversified investments, and investing over the long haul. And sometimes the best course of action is to do nothing at all.
Exactly right. I just hope that when the worst happens, I remember not to freak out.
The graph of the S&P 500 over the past 65 years says it all. There will be ups and downs caused by a myriad of different factors, but it has always trended up over the long-term. My plan is the same regardless of who’s President. Keep saving and investing as much as I can to build by nut. Every 4 or 8 years, half the country thinks the world is going to end and the other half thinks they won the lottery. Happened with Bush, Obama, and now Trump. In the end we’ll all be just fine, and in another 4 or 8 years, the country will be sick of Republicans and Democrats will take over. Rinse and repeat.
Sounds like you’ve got the right thinking. Just stick to your financial plan. That’s what I’m trying to do. And honestly, seems like a downturn would be good for young folks like myself so long as I don’t lose my job.
A downturn is much less painful when you’re just starting out and don’t have a lot invested. That is of course if you keep your job :). I was 2 years into my career when the Great Recession hit. In year 1 (2006) my 4o1k was up double digits. Three quarters of the way through 2007 and it was up another 8% or so. I thought the market would always just go up. Then reality set in and the market plummeted. I only had around $20k invested at the time, so losing 30% didn’t hurt nearly as much as it would now.
There were several partners I worked with at the time who pulled there money out of the market after the crash, only to miss the big gains that would follow during the recovery. Even at a young age then I knew it was death to pull out of the market at the low point. But then again, I only had a small amount invested compared to them. Much easier to stay the course when retirement isn’t on the horizon and you don’t have a lot at stake.
Agree with every word. This is also my conclusion. You must stick to your plan, everything that happens in politics is only a noise on the long term. Have the world wars destroyed the markets? No. Can Trump be worse than that? Of course not. This is irrespective from the fact whether you like him or not.
Well…who knows with Trump…but, unless I think the world is coming to an end, then all I can do is stick with my game plan. I have faith that the world is going to look totally different a decade from now. Just think how different the world looked in 2006 compared to today. If I believe that the we as a people are going to invent new things and improve our productivity, then I have to believe that investments can only go up over the long term.
Using the analogy of one of my favorite PF podcasters, the stock market over the long term is like walking up a mountain while swinging a yo-yo. All the day-to-day movements and gyrations of the market prompted by this election or that geo-political event are (mostly and usually) noise. Tune it out and as you say, stay the course. Good message and post!
True that! Which podcaster says that quote? I’m a huge PF podcast junkie!
The Money Guy (aka Brian Preston). Good stuff. http://www.money-guy.com
The Money Guy was one of the first PF podcasts I found. Agree, good stuff!