Tariffs

On April 2, 2025, Donald Trump declared a new holiday: "Liberation Day."

For millions of Americans, it was anything but.

A few weeks ago, Victor Fettes, a 54-year-old Verizon employee, opened his retirement account and saw that $70,000 was gone.

"It’s scary," Victor said. "That’s money we can’t get back. That’s time we don’t have."

Victor is not alone. Across the country, Americans logged in to check their 401(k)s and saw the same thing: losses they didn’t expect and weren’t prepared for.

Liberation Day sent shockwaves through the market.

What Happened?

Trump announced a new round of tariffs on imports from China, Europe, and dozens of other countries.

He called it a win for American industry. He said it would bring back jobs, fix trade, and boost the economy.

But that’s not how markets saw it. This morning, the S&P 500 dropped 3%. The Dow fell more than 1,000 points. Over $4 trillion in value has been erased since Trump took office.

People who spent decades saving for retirement watched those savings shrink in a matter of days.

This wasn’t an isolated drop. It was a reaction to real policy with real consequences.

What $4 Trillion Lost Feels Like

It feels like pushing back your retirement. It feels like canceling a family trip. It feels like running the numbers and realizing they no longer add up.

And it brings a bitter kind of regret. Because this didn’t come out of nowhere. The risks were visible.

Markets don’t like sudden changes to global trade. Investors pulled back. Analysts warned this could happen. And now that it has, everyday Americans are paying the price.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed the selloff as a minor disturbance. He said the economy would bounce back and long-term benefits would outweigh the short-term hit.

But for working Americans, the hit is already here. Prices on groceries, cars, and appliances are rising. Retirement accounts are falling. Volatility is now the norm.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 70% of Americans expect prices to keep rising. More than half believe the tariffs will do more harm than good.

The Unspoken Truth

Tariffs are taxes. Not on other countries. On you.

They show up in higher prices due to our highly interconnected global economy. They drag down investments. And they hurt the people who can least afford it.

Right now, markets are swinging up and down with no clear direction. That’s what analysts call a whipsaw market. Most people lose money in these conditions because they react emotionally. They sell low. They sit out rallies. They get caught in the wrong cycle.

What You Can Do Now

First, don’t freeze. Do what Victor did. Reassess. Shift into more stable investments if needed. You don’t have to predict the market. But you do need to protect yourself.

Look at your allocations. Rebalance if things are out of line. Make sure your portfolio matches your risk tolerance, especially now.

Because it is costing you.

Trump called it Liberation Day. But for many Americans, it felt more like Detonation Day.

This is your money. Your retirement. Your future.

The people in Washington may call it strategy. But for the rest of us, it’s a financial gut punch.

You don’t need to panic. But you do need to act.

Stay sharp. Stay informed.

Double D

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