I’m in my 50s, the kids have all left home and I’m finally focusing on getting my finances sorted — with the Americans electing Trump again and his flip-flop economics shaking up global trade, what should Aussies like me be doing to protect our savings? Is now the time to invest or sit tight?
- Question from James in Caboolture, QLD
Top answer provided by:
Jo Brassett
Hi James,
Thanks for the great question — and well done for turning your focus to your finances. Your 50s are a critical time to get your long-term strategy in place. With fewer family expenses and more flexibility, it’s the perfect opportunity to set yourself up for a strong and secure retirement.
The return of Donald Trump has certainly reignited uncertainty in global markets. From unpredictable tariff changes to shifting foreign policy, his approach to international trade and economics is anything but steady. So, it’s no surprise you’re wondering how that might affect your savings.
But here’s the thing: while you can’t control U.S. politics or global headlines, you can control your financial strategy — and that’s where the power lies.
- Stay focused on the long term
One of the most important principles for investors is to avoid reacting emotionally to short-term events. Markets go through cycles, and history has shown us time and again that they recover — often sooner than we expect.
As Warren Buffett famously said, “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.” Trying to time the market rarely ends well. In fact, Vanguard research shows that missing just the 10 best days in the market over 20 years can reduce your returns by more than 50%. Staying invested, even through uncertain times, is often the best way to preserve and grow your wealth.
- Review your investment mix
Your 50s are a transition phase — not quite retired, but no longer in aggressive wealth-building mode either. Now is a great time to revisit your asset allocation. Do your investments match your current risk tolerance and retirement timeline?
You might need to rebalance — shifting some funds from growth assets like shares to more stable income-producing investments. But don’t go too conservative too soon. You may still have 30+ years of retirement ahead, so growth is still important.
- Diversify to reduce risk
Trump’s trade policies could affect global supply chains and specific sectors, particularly in the U.S. and China. If your portfolio is heavily skewed toward Australian shares or one region, that could increase your vulnerability.
Global diversification — across countries, asset classes, and industries — is one of the most effective ways to manage risk and smooth out returns.
- Keep investing regularly
Even in turbulent markets, consistent contributions to your super or investment account can work in your favour. This strategy, called dollar-cost averaging, helps you buy more when prices are low and less when prices are high — effectively reducing the average cost of your investments over time. Consider this: after the COVID crash in March 2020, the S&P 500 rebounded more than 60% in just 12 months. Investors who stayed the course — or invested during the downturn — were well rewarded.
- Personalised advice is key
You’ve probably built up a decent amount of savings by now — so this stage is all about protecting it while making smart moves for the future. That’s where tailored financial advice can make a real difference.
An experienced adviser can help you make sense of how global uncertainty may affect your unique situation and guide you on everything from super contributions and tax planning to retirement income strategies and estate planning.
Also, if you’re sitting on cash and wondering if it’s a good time to invest — it just might be. When markets are shaky and investor sentiment is low, shares often trade at lower prices. As Buffett also said:
“Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”
Bottom line?
Trump may bring volatility, but that doesn’t mean your financial future has to suffer. With a solid plan, diversified investments, and clear goals, you can stay on track no matter who’s in the White House.
While the Adviser Ratings Website facilitates the question and answer functionality, all such communications are between users and authorised financial advisers, of which Adviser Ratings has no affiliation. Adviser Ratings is not the advice provider and does not provide financial product advice and only provides information that is general in nature.
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