With headlines dominated by tariff drama, pharma probes, and wild earnings swings, today’s markets feel more like a high-stakes chess game than a calm investment landscape. But according to Brad Roth, our Chief Investment Officer of UX Wealth, this environment, while complex, isn’t a time for panic. It’s a time for precision, planning, and positioning.
In a recent appearance on Yahoo Finance, Brad offered a steady-handed roadmap to navigating the volatility. His advice? Build resilience by embracing quality, maintain flexibility with liquidity, and always lead with a rules-based process instead of emotion.
Staying Agile in a Tariff-Fueled Market
Tariffs and trade tensions are back in the spotlight. The EU is signaling that many tariffs will persist for the foreseeable future, while the U.S. is ramping up scrutiny of pharmaceutical imports. Investors are left digesting a new round of uncertainty, with ripple effects touching everything from semiconductors to aerospace.
“Investors need to stay nimble,” Brad explained. “That starts with liquidity. Keeping dry powder in portfolios allows you to capitalize on opportunities that emerge from these macro dislocations.”
He pointed to defensive domestic names like Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, and Coca-Cola, companies with solid fundamentals and the ability to weather global uncertainty, as areas where advisors can look for dependable exposure.
Quality Over Quantity—and Guidance Over Hype
While earnings season may deliver strong top-line results, Brad urged caution when reading into the headlines. “Guidance is where the real signals lie,” he noted. “Executives may use this moment to set the stage for tempered expectations under the guise of uncertainty.”
For advisors, that means looking beyond quarterly beats and digging into the forward-looking narratives from leadership at key firms, especially the mega-cap tech titans that dominate portfolios.
Brad encourages a focus on quality and defensiveness, not high-beta speculation. In tech, that means names like Apple and Microsoft rather than more exposed names like NVIDIA, where tariffs cast a longer shadow.
Key Considerations for Advisors Navigating Today’s Market
Brad’s insights led to several tactical takeaways that every advisor should consider when building and rebalancing portfolios in today’s unpredictable environment:
- Maintain Liquidity
Keep a healthy allocation in cash or near-cash assets to remain agile and responsive to sudden market shifts or new opportunities.
- Embrace Defensive Sectors
Staples, healthcare, and financials often act as a buffer in volatile periods. Look to names with pricing power and global scale.
- Use Tools Designed for Flexibility
Leverage portfolio solutions, like automated sleeving and dynamic model rebalancing, that adapt to market change in real time.
- Lean Into Low-Volatility Strategies
Consider defined outcome products, buffered ETFs, or low-volatility strategies that can provide stability without sidelining your capital.
- Be Selective in Tech Exposure
Focus on companies with strong domestic revenue bases and diversified operations, and avoid segments vulnerable to trade friction.
- Anchor in a Rules-Based Process
Volatility stirs emotion. Sticking to a defined investment framework helps clients stay invested and aligned with their long-term objectives.
- Watch the Guidance, Not Just the Results
Companies may deliver solid earnings this quarter, but what they say about the future matters even more.
Building Better Ships
“Volatility isn’t a cue to retreat,” Brad concluded. “It’s a cue to refine your process, focus on what you can control, and use today’s tools to navigate tomorrow’s risks.”
At UX Wealth, we believe that modern investing isn’t about avoiding storms. It’s about building better ships. Brad’s perspective reminds us that with the right mindset, tools, and strategy, advisors can not only withstand volatility—they can thrive through it.
Watch the entire video here.
