This Ain’t My First Rodeo: Tariff Volatility and Market Panic Are Back, But You Don’t Have to Be a Hero

Let’s get something straight—this whole market panic? Not new. Not the end of the world. Not even the weirdest thing to happen in the last decade. (Remember toilet paper hoarding? Exactly.)

Bradford kicks off this rant—I mean, video—with the calm of someone who’s been through more financial meltdowns than most of us have had iPhones. Dotcom bust? He was there. 2008 crash? Front row seat. Greek debt crisis? Yep. COVID-19? Oh yeah. And now, here we go again: chaos, courtesy of tariffs and headlines that look like they were written by doomsday poets.

Apocalypse of the Day: Tariff Volatility and Market Panic

You know that feeling when the market drops and suddenly everyone turns into Warren Buffett’s evil twin? Panic-sells everything, Googles “how to survive financial collapse,” and considers converting their 401(k) into gold bars or canned beans?

Yeah. Don’t do that.

Because here’s the thing—every time the market drops, people freak out. Not some people. A lot of people. And the ones who act on that fear? They usually sell right at the bottom. Bradford’s seen it firsthand. Clients calling him, shaking in their boots, demanding to dump everything on March 23rd, 2020. Right. At. The. Bottom.

That’s not strategy. That’s emotional whiplash dressed up as decision-making.

Fear’s a Terrible Investment Advisor

You can dress fear up in a spreadsheet and call it “analysis,” but at the end of the day? It’s still fear. People don’t make rational choices when they’re afraid. They just justify their gut reaction with cherry-picked data. Feels smart. Isn’t.

And now with the market down a sharp 5% a day—Bradford recorded this on April 4, for the record—people are doing that nervous shuffle again. “Should I sell? Should I wait for a bounce? What if it never comes back?”

Buddy. It always comes back. The question is: Will you be around for it?

Let’s Talk Tariffs and the Markets (Yeah, I Know)

This time, the chaos is coming from Trump’s big ol’ tariff stick—aka, the latest round of tariff volatility and market panic. We’re talking double-digit percentage slaps on imports that have people going, “Wait, what? Is this a trade war sequel?”

Maybe. Maybe not.

Bradford’s take? It’s a negotiating tactic. A big, bold, ugly opening move meant to shake the table. And sure, people are freaked out—half the country didn’t vote for Trump, and even some who did aren’t loving these numbers. But if you zoom out, this is about leverage. The U.S. isn’t just trying to get better trade deals—it’s trying to curb shady practices, level the playing field, and maybe (just maybe) bring some of those outsourced jobs back home.

Is it messy? Yep. Uncomfortable? Absolutely. But pretending the U.S. hasn’t done its own share of protectionist nonsense—hi, sugar and corn lobbies—isn’t exactly honest either.

Recession Vibes? Kinda. But Also—Perspective.

There’s a chance all this noise slows things down. Uncertainty makes businesses pause. Hiring freezes. Factory plans shelved. Cue the “are we heading into a recession?” chatter.

But while the market's having a meltdown, Bradford’s out here hiring. Expanding. Investing in the future. Not because he’s ignoring the chaos—but because he knows this ain’t the end of the story. It's just another chapter in a very repetitive book.

And Tesla? Don’t even get him started. That company has a weird habit of thriving in crisis mode. Like, 2020 was basically their montage scene in a sports movie.

So, What’s the Move?

Let’s be clear: The goal isn’t to pretend everything’s fine. It’s to not lose your mind when everything’s not.

If you’re listening to headlines, politicians, or random uncles on Facebook to guide your investing... stop. That’s not a strategy. That’s a panic attack in a trench coat.

At Rebellionaire and Halter Ferguson Financial, Bradford and the crew are all about zooming out. Ignore the noise. Play the long game. Be skeptical—but not paralyzed. This ain’t their first rodeo. And if you stick around, it won’t be your last either.

Wanna freak out? Fine. Do it. But don’t sell at the bottom and call it “discipline.” That’s not discipline. That’s fear with a brokerage account.

Hold the line. Ignore the apocalypse-of-the-day. And for the love of your future self, stop reading the comment section on financial news posts.

We’re gonna get through this. Just maybe not with our sanity intact.