In times of unrest, is it time to divest?

As seen in The Oakland Press

March 22nd, 2026

In times of unrest, is it

time to divest?

by Ken Morris

Since the beginning of the year, the AI driven technology stocks have struggled to regain last year’s momentum. AI concerns have resulted in a lot of discussions on the business channels. Meanwhile, the nightly news covers an ongoing conflict somewhere or another or one about to erupt somewhere else. These are unsettling times, and if you’re an investor, it’s definitely the time to be diversified. Nothing can completely shield a person or portfolio from difficult times like this. But diversification can bring you an added measure of comfort and confidence.

On the evening of February 27, I had one of my most enjoyable evenings in a long time, just watching one of my grandchildren. I was also excited that I would be attending a birthday celebration for two more grandchildren.

The weekend of joy was interrupted when I woke up to the news on the last day of February to learn that our nation was indeed in another military conflict. Over my lifetime, we have been in numerous military conflicts, but the uneasiness is always there.

Whenever I think of military conflicts, I think of family, especially the little ones. I think about an uncle I never met who didn’t make it home from WWII. My wife’s uncle whose name we recently rubbed off the wall at the Vietnam Memorial. I think about my father and other uncles who served our nation. And I think about my grandson’s former ski instructor who is now an Army Ranger. Young men and women like him and their families are always in my thoughts.

While watching the reports on Operation Epic Fury, the media interviewed various military experts. Some said it could go on for days or even weeks. When I heard those comments, my mind went back to my fondness for American History.

When our American Civil War broke out, many experts of the time forecast it would be over in a matter of days. In reality, it was about five years. Vietnam was initially just a minor conflict, but it also dragged on for years and divided our country.

There’s not a financial advisor who can say with certainty that everything will be just fine. History can’t forecast the future. But it is comforting to know that from a financial perspective, our financial stability has remained relatively strong throughout multiple military conflicts.

My first real setback as an advisor was Black Monday in 1987. Since then, I have guided clients through the Kuwait invasion, the First Gulf War, the recession in the 1990s, the Second Gulf War, Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, just to name a few.

Shocks to the investment world are simply part of the landscape. Without a doubt they can be painful. But somehow, time and again, we find a way to bounce back.

When emotions take over in times of crisis, people tend to make mistakes. Many try to time the markets, abandon their investing strategy, and wait for clarity before returning to their investments. That rarely works for long-term investors.

I recommend looking beyond the immediate crisis because the world is constantly in a crisis mode somewhere. The next one, whatever it may be, could have happened yesterday.

I sincerely hope our children and grandchildren can live in a peaceful world, one that has eluded my generation.