Why It's More Important Than Ever to Stay Invested in the Stock Market to Achieve Financial Freedom
- Ben Getley
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
(Inspired by JL Collins and The Simple Path to Wealth)
Navigating the Storm — The Importance of Staying the Course
Recent weeks have seen significant market volatility, reminiscent of past trade tensions. In early April 2025, President Trump publicly called for new tariffs on Chinese imports, reigniting investor fears of a global trade conflict. This led to a sharp market downturn, with global share markets — including major indices like the MSCI World Index and the S&P 500 — falling nearly 10% in just two days.
However, we've seen this play out before. During the original Trump tariff wars in 2018–2019, global equity markets experienced similar turbulence, with the S&P 500 and other international indices dropping over 10% multiple times amid escalating tensions. But those who stayed invested? They not only recovered — they made substantial gains in the following years.
JL Collins, in his classic book The Simple Path to Wealth, reminds us:
“The market always recovers. It always has. It always will. Stay the course.”
It's moments like these when I reach for my copy of "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins to help remind me that the stock market has gone on sale and to stay the course. This is one of my favourite and trusted books on understanding the stock market, investing, and financial freedom.
The Simple Path to Wealth grew out of a series of letters JL Collins wrote for his daughter to help explain investing, becoming financially independent, having a free life and mostly about the things his daughter was not ready to hear about money and investing.
The author knows that most people don't want to spend their time thinking about money and created the book with this in mind.
The simple approach he wrote for his daughter is laid out beautifully and really is simple to implement. Some key takeaways;
Why its important to avoid debt and what to do if you have it
How to think about money and how to build wealth
How the stock market works, and how not to be afraid of investing
What financial independence is and how to make passive income work for you
The 4% rule and how when you can live off your investments
The Simple Truth Behind Wealth-Building & Financial Freedom
Markets go down. Markets go up. But over time, they trend upward.That’s the engine of long-term wealth — not timing the market, but time in the market.
In The Simple Path to Wealth, Collins simplifies what decades of financial data shows:
The global stock market is volatile in the short term, but unbeatable over the long term
Trying to guess when to get in and out is a losing game
Your best bet? Invest in broad, low-cost index funds and stay invested
“The market is a yo-yo,” Collins says, “but you’re on an escalator going up.”
That’s the simple path. That’s the powerful mindset most people miss.
Holding the Line — Even When It Feels Shaky
Here’s how you can stay strong when the market shakes:
Remember your plan – You’re investing for the long haul, not tomorrow's headline.
Trust the math – Historically, global stock markets return ~7% annually after inflation.
Zoom out – That 10% drop during the Trump trade war? It recovered. So did COVID. So will this.
Automate everything – Keep investing on schedule. Don’t interrupt the compounding machine.
JL Collins encourages simplicity. One fund. Regular contributions. Emotional detachment.
He says:
“The market is going to go up and down. If you’re invested in VTSAX or a global index fund, just ignore the noise. Let it ride.”
The Future You’ll Thank Yourself For
What if…
You stopped checking the market every day?
You trusted your plan instead of your fear?
You held on while others pulled out — and came out way ahead?
Imagine 5, 10, 20 years from now. The market has gone through its normal cycles and your future self is sitting on double, maybe triple your current net worth…Because you held the line. You stayed the course. You followed the simple path to wealth.
That’s the beauty of staying invested. You don’t have to be perfect — just consistent.
Closing Thought
There will always be a new reason to panic. But there is only one path to long-term wealth:Buy. Hold. Repeat.
JL Collins laid it out. The market has proved it again and again, now’s not the time to run. Now’s the time to stay in the game.
Which path will you take on journey towards financial freedom ?
If any part of this resonated with you, I invite you to connect with me. Let's dive into what’s holding you back, and explore how coaching can help you.
Click below to schedule a free consultation and start your journey today.
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