Camille Van Vyve
14 Mar 2025
Video: the story of the panicked customer
The past few weeks have likely reminded you that investing in the stock market is both exciting and challenging. In this short video, our CEO, Matthieu, shares a real-life episode from the COVID crisis that perfectly illustrates investor psychology—even among seasoned professionals—during turbulent times. The key takeaway? Never panic.
Even experienced investors feel fear
At Easyvest, we ask potential investors whether they would accept a temporary drop in their portfolio of -10%, -20%, or even -30%. In theory, many say they would. But experiencing a sudden market plunge is a different story. During the COVID-19 crisis, markets fell more than 30% within weeks. Panic took hold, and some investors were desperate to sell at any cost. However, giving in to fear is often a mistake. Successful investing requires discipline and a steady hand—qualities that help investors navigate crises.
Market fluctuations are inevitable—be prepared
Market corrections are not anomalies; they are part of the investing journey. Every investor will face them sooner or later. At Easyvest, we don’t recommend buying or selling based on short-term movements—no one can predict the market’s direction with certainty. Instead, we advocate investing in global ETFs to capture overall market returns. Our role during turbulent times is to reassure clients and help them stay the course. As this video explains, those who remained invested after the 2020 crash saw their portfolios recover far faster than they expected.
History shows the market always climbs higher
The stock market’s fundamental truth is that, despite crises, it always trends upward over the long run. Whether it was after the 1929 crash, the 2008 financial crisis, or COVID-19, markets have consistently recovered and surpassed their previous highs—sometimes quickly, sometimes more gradually. This resilience is driven by long-term global economic growth. Investors who panic and sell during downturns risk missing the rebound, while those who stay invested reap the rewards.
Take advantage of downturns—buy the dip
Market dips can present great opportunities. Buying when prices are lower allows investors to acquire assets at a discount, increasing long-term returns. For example, an investor who bought at the lowest point of the COVID crisis ended 2024 with a 132% return, compared to 53% for someone who waited for the market to recover before investing. Since timing the market is nearly impossible, a regular investment strategy—like a systematic investment plan—is the best way to benefit from market fluctuations without unnecessary stress.
Patience is key
The story of this worried investor during COVID serves as a crucial reminder: crises are inevitable, but the worst mistake is to panic. Those who stay invested and maintain a long-term vision tend to be the biggest winners in the stock market. Instead of viewing downturns as periods of risk, savvy investors see them as planting seasons—seeds sown in difficult times will yield abundant rewards when the economic cycle turns upward. And to eliminate the fear of investing at the "wrong time," nothing beats a systematic investment plan.
Are you ready to invest for the long term? Run a simulation now and schedule a meeting with one of our Wealth Managers.