Are Stock Market Declines Normal? What History Tells Us and What ODs Should Do About It

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Welcome back to The Optometry Money Podcast! In this episode, host Evon Mendrin, CFP®, dives into the topic of stock market declines—a reality for every long-term investor. With headlines buzzing about economic concerns, tariffs, and policy changes, market volatility can feel unsettling. But how common are market declines really? And what should optometrists do when they happen?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How often stock market declines occur—historical data on 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% drops
 ✅ What happens after market declines—average returns after 1, 3, and 5 years
 ✅ The importance of diversification and why international stocks matter
 ✅ Why trying to time the market is dangerous and can hurt long-term returns
 ✅ Key actions optometrists can take during a market downturn
 ✅ How rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and Roth conversions can be smart financial moves
 ✅ Why staying the course is the best strategy for long-term investors

Market declines are normal and expected, but they don’t have to derail your investment plan. Evon shares valuable insights to help optometrists make informed decisions, stay disciplined, and continue building their financial future—even during uncertain times.

Resources & Links:

🔗 Click here to Sign up for the Eyes On The Money Newsletter and get your Guide to 2025's Most Important Numbers
🔗 Learn more about Optometry Wealth Advisors – www.optometrywealth.com
🔗 Have a question? Contact Evon – podcast@optometrywealth.com

Resources & Links:

🔗 US Stock Market History of Ups and Downs
🔗 Reacting Can Hurt Performance - Missed Days Hurts Returns
🔗 Markets Have Rewarded Disciplined Investors

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow OD! And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.

The Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.