I’ve been seeing a few nervous posts in the community lately: people worried about their super and investments, wondering if they should pull their money out and sit in cash ‘just until things settle down.’ And I get it. When the news is full of uncertainty—political shake-ups, economic ripples, markets moving—it’s natural to feel like you should do something. But sometimes, the best action is no action at all.

Let me paint a picture. Imagine you own a house, and for whatever reason, maybe a few properties in your area sold for less than expected, someone tells you your home is now worth 20% less than it was last year. Do you rush out and sell it at a loss? Or do you wait, knowing that markets shift all the time, and over the long term, property values generally rise? Investing works the same way. Selling when things are down means you crystallise your losses: those paper losses become real, and you don’t give your investments a chance to recover.

This moment in time feels huge because it’s happening now. But events like this happen all the time. In fact, there are shifts in global markets every single day based on things you’ll never even hear about. Elections, economic reports, interest rate changes, natural disasters, corporate profits. Markets are constantly adjusting. If you cashed out every time something happened, you’d be stuck on a never-ending rollercoaster, always selling low and missing the recovery. That’s how people actually lose money.

The most successful investors aren’t the ones trying to time the market. They’re the ones who trust the long game. Superannuation is a long-term investment, designed to ride out the ups and downs so that over decades, your money grows. History shows us that markets recover. So, instead of making fear-based decisions, take a step back. Breathe. If you’re truly worried, speak to a professional before making any moves. But please—don’t let short-term panic cost you long-term wealth.

Community question

Community member says: My home and contents insurance has more than doubled in a year and I’m starting to question whether I can afford it. What do I do if I can’t afford it? Not insure?

Glen says: So sorry to hear this cost increase is affecting you! We’ve asked our community before what price hikes they’ve experienced—home and contents insurance increases are one of the most common.

I don’t think there’s a blanket answer I can give you as it relies on a number of personal factors. But what I do know is that going without insurance entirely could be a massive risk—one that might not be worth taking.

Some things to consider:
✅ Shop around and compare policies—there might be a better deal out there.
✅ Talk to your insurer to see if adjusting your coverage, excess, or payment frequency could make it more affordable.
✅ If your property is in a high-risk area, are you willing to pay the high cost knowing the risks? This one comes down to what you’re comfortable with.

This is a huge issue right now, especially with some insurers pulling out of high-risk areas altogether. And simply telling people to up and move somewhere else isn’t a solution, in my opinion. I would really like to see more done to support homeowners, especially as the risk of floods and fires increases over time.

John Pidgeon and I recently sat down to talk about how this is playing out in Australia and what people can do if they’re feeling stuck. Check out the discussion here.

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