April 2025 Market Volitility Update

Tariffs, Tumult & Opportunity: Navigating Market Volatility with Discipline and Insight

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In this special edition of the MLD Wealth Podcast, Chad Larson addresses the recent global market turmoil triggered by surprise tariff announcements from President Trump. Larson dissects the sharp equity market selloffs, outlines historical context, and explains MLD Wealth’s disciplined investment strategy that emphasizes liquidity, credit quality, and portfolio diversification. He also explores speculative motivations behind the policy shift, including possible pressure tactics on the Fed. Throughout, Larson reassures investors that volatility creates opportunities for active managers and reinforces the importance of patience, risk management, and long-term focus.

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Timestamps

Key Takeaways with Timestamps:

• Highlight Timestamp Summary (max 10 words per highlight):
  
  • 00:00 – Surprise tariff announcement disrupts global equity markets.
  • 00:40 – NASDAQ, DAX, Nikkei drop over 20%.
  • 01:45 – Trump’s strategy: provoke negotiations through economic pressure.
  • 02:19 – S&P corrected 10% in two days.
  • 02:59 – MLD focuses on discipline, diversification, and no leverage.
  • 03:56 – Active risk controls aim to protect capital and exploit volatility.
  • 04:25 – Mispricings offer rebalancing and credit spread opportunities.
  • 05:54 – Historical crashes show potential for sharp recoveries.
  • 07:05 – Trump may back down while claiming victory.
  • 09:16 – Passive investing increases waterfall decline risk.
  • 10:23 – Fed likely to prioritize inflation over growth.
  • 11:26 – Theory: Trump triggers crash to force rate cuts.
  • 12:52 – 50+ countries begin tariff negotiations.
  • 13:23 – Past crashes led to major 12-month rallies.
  • 14:34 – Portfolio positioned in senior credit with strong counterparties.
  • 15:36 – Alternatives reduce risk and smooth volatility.
  • 16:04 – Tariffs’ ripple effect still a concern.
  • 16:31 – Closing reassurance: process and philosophy over panic.

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Key Topics Discussed:

In this urgent podcast update, Chad Larson of MLD Wealth tackles the escalating market volatility sparked by President Trump’s sudden announcement of sweeping global tariffs. With major indices like the NASDAQ and DAX plunging over 20% in mere days, Larson reassures investors that while fear is high, discipline matters most. He outlines MLD’s strategic positioning—reduced exposure to risk, a tilt toward credit, high liquidity, and zero leverage—which has enabled the firm to weather the storm while remaining poised to exploit dislocations.

Larson dives into multiple potential market scenarios, from continued downturns to a sharp bounce, and speculates on Trump’s political motivations—hinting that the crash could be a ploy to induce interest rate cuts. Historical market behavior suggests potential for a strong recovery, and the team remains confident in their diversified, credit-first, and alternatives-heavy portfolio design.

Ultimately, Larson encourages investors to trust the process, ignore panic-driven headlines, and recognize that turbulent markets often bring the richest opportunities—if approached with clarity, patience, and a steady hand.

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