Justin Hartman - Financial Planner

Wars and global conflicts have been a constant throughout history.

So has market uncertainty during those moments.

With the recent and on-going U.S-Israel strikes on Iran and the broader escalation, this is a timely chart showing the history of the Stock Market and different Wars along the way.

📈 One trend I’m seeing a lot in annual review meetings…

Long bull markets have a way of quietly reshaping how we think about risk.

After years of steady gains, risk starts to feel comfortable.
Volatility feels distant.
Drawdowns feel theoretical.

But here’s the reality: true risk tolerance isn’t revealed when markets are going up — it’s revealed when they’re going down.
It’s easy to say “I’m comfortable with risk” after years of positive returns.

It’s much harder to feel that same way when markets are down 15–20% and headlines are loud.

That’s why portfolio construction matters so much.

A well-built portfolio isn’t about chasing what worked recently — it’s about:
• Aligning investments with your actual risk tolerance
• Making sure short-term volatility doesn’t derail long-term goals
• Creating a plan you can stick with in both good markets and bad ones

Bull markets test our discipline in subtle ways.
Bear markets test it loudly.

Investments matter—but they’re not the whole story.

If your advisor is only managing your portfolio, you may be missing out on comprehensive financial planning that ties your money to your real-life goals.

If you’re curious what that looks like, let’s talk.

What’s the difference between a financial plan and an investment portfolio? Lehigh Valley Investment Group Financial Planner Justin Hartman explains.

- A financial plan is your roadmap that we constantly update to outline your goals, income, expenses, insurance, estate needs, and long-term strategy.

- An investment portfolio is simply one tool inside of the financial plan, built and designed to help you achieve those goals. In my opinion, you can't have a properly built portfolio without knowing what you are trying to achieve and how that factors into your overall plan.

Are you looking to build an investment portfolio into your financial plan or start roadmapping an overall financial plan? Justin can help with both.

Connect with him on LinkedIn and schedule a free consultation with him here: https://lehighvalleyinvestmentgroup.com/about/