The Markets: When everything's burning, where do you find shelter?

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It’s been a rough week in the markets. Again.

If you’ve glanced at your portfolio lately, which I advise you probably shouldn’t, you felt that familiar knot in your stomach. Tech stocks tumbling. Commodities swinging. Bitcoin continues to sink. The headlines aren’t helping either. Trump’s proposed tariffs, and the follow-up retaliatory threats to increase tariffs with those who don’t play ball (looking at you China) are shaking investor confidence, and the knock-on effect is spreading fast.

We won’t bore you with a full macro breakdown - I'm sure everyone has already had their fill of market turmoil. But here’s the quick version for those with an aversion to mainstream media:

The threat of fresh tariffs is making global markets incredibly jittery. Investors are pricing in uncertainty (read: fear), and the sell-off has begun. Add whispers of a recession, and you’ve got a classic case of “rush to dollars”, where everyone tries to dump risk and hoard cash.

The result? Blood in the streets.

Now, when that happens, you’ve really only got two options: Panic and sell. Or hold.

We're choosing to hold.

Not because we know exactly how this all plays out. Because the truth is, no one knows a f*cking thing. But because we’ve been here before, and history tells us that panic rarely pays. In the short term, markets do what markets do. But over time, they tend to recover. Plus, we’re no traders - we’re long-term investors.

And here’s the thing we’ve been thinking about: What if your portfolio didn’t have to live or die by the mood swings of the S&P 500?

The case for calm: private markets

When public markets panic, everything liquid starts dropping in unison. Stocks. Bonds. Crypto (Bitcoins starting to behave more like a tech stock these days).

But private markets? They don’t flinch in the same way.

Alternative assets like venture capital, private equity, art, collectibles, and even private credit, tend to move on their own clock. They’re not priced by the second or swayed by the day’s headlines. Why? Because they’re illiquid, and illiquidity can be a superpower.

Take venture capital. When COVID hit, public markets cratered. But many startups thrived - riding digital tailwinds, raising rounds, growing fast. Why? Because they weren’t being bought and sold in real time. Their value wasn’t dictated by panic. It was dictated by progress.

It’s the same with art or private credit. These assets often live in worlds that are completely detached from the volatility of public exchanges. And while they’re not immune to economic shifts, they’re less correlated, which can make them stabilisers in a shaky portfolio.

So what now?

We’re not saying ditch your stocks, of course. But if the last week rattled you, maybe it’s a sign your portfolio’s too concentrated. Too exposed to the whims of headlines and herd mentality.

Private markets aren’t a magic bullet. But they can bring a bit of peace when everything else feels chaotic. But only if you’re playing the long game!

And that’s the key: the long game.

Private market investments aren’t designed for quick flips or day-trading dopamine hits. They’re long-term, illiquid bets. Meaning once your money’s in, it’s generally locked up for years. That might sound like a drawback, but it can actually be a gift.

When your capital isn’t easily accessible, you’re less likely to react emotionally or sell in a panic. You avoid the noise, the temptation to time the market, and the costly mistakes that often follow. Of course, this only works if you’re investing money you don’t need access to. So be honest with yourself, and stay within your own financial comfort zone.

And remember: the markets go up, the markets go down.

What we’ve been working on at Shuttle

• Streamlining verification

• Improving payment flows

• Lining up our next deal (our first Series A investment)

The Unsophisticated Investor is brought to you by Scott & Rob, the founders of Shuttle. We’re both sick of private markets being a playground exclusive to the ultra-wealthy so we started a company to challenge the status-quo. Shuttle’s singular focus is to unlock private markets for Millennial and Gen Z retail investors and help them build wealth through the highest performing private market opportunities.

Scott & Rob
Shuttle Co-Founders