FORT WAYNE, Ind. — As U.S. markets reel from renewed tariff threats by Donald Trump, a northeast Indiana investment chief is offering clear advice to local investors: don’t panic—pivot.

Edison Byzyka, Chief Investment Officer at Auburn-based Credent Wealth Management, says the recent plunge in equity prices has less to do with fundamentals and more with fear. And in his view, that makes it a prime opportunity for savvy repositioning.

“What we’re seeing today is the same thing we witnessed during the depths of COVID in March 2020,” Byzyka said Monday. “Those that reacted too quickly actually generated more risk for their long-term performance.”

Trump tariffs send markets into spin

Markets turned sharply lower after the former president vowed over the weekend to escalate his trade war with China, threatening new 50% tariffs on Chinese imports if re-elected. The announcement rattled investors already jittery about rates and global demand.

By midday Monday, the S&P 500 had dropped 2.3%, the Dow shed over 700 points, and tech-heavy Nasdaq sank 2.9%. The losses erased several weeks of modest gains.

While Wall Street analysts scrambled to assess the probability of actual tariff implementation, the broader investor base appeared to react more emotionally—something Byzyka says is dangerous during speculative selloffs.

“This is a sale, not a fire”

“Things are on sale today,” Byzyka said bluntly. “And to my surprise, many investors don’t like to buy stocks when they’re on sale—which is exactly what they should be doing when reallocating assets.”

He pointed specifically to small-cap and mid-cap equities whose business operations are largely domestic and not directly impacted by trade flows. Many of those names, he said, are getting pulled down in a broader risk-off environment despite remaining fundamentally sound.

“This is more of a sentiment event than a structural one,” he explained. “That means investors need to focus on what they can control—and that starts with discipline.”

Whiplash risk outweighs short-term pain

According to Byzyka, quick recoveries often follow politically driven downturns. He warned that exiting the market during high-volatility periods risks missing rapid rebounds that can erase losses almost overnight.

“What if tomorrow, or next week, we get news that tariffs are suspended? Or softened? That reversal would be abrupt, quick, and unforgiving,” he said. “Missing that rebound is often more damaging than trying to avoid volatility.”

Byzyka compared the current environment to early 2020, when fears about COVID-19 led to extreme market swings. Those who held—or added—to their positions during the drop often saw full recoveries within months.

“This feels eerily similar,” he added. “Speculative selloffs don’t last forever.”

Advice for retail investors

For those watching their retirement accounts or brokerage portfolios fall in value, Byzyka offered a few clear principles:

• Stay invested: Don’t try to time a bottom. Recovery moves can happen in hours, not days.

• Reallocate smartly: Consider trimming exposure to tariff-sensitive sectors (e.g., heavy manufacturing or semiconductors) and shifting into insulated domestic plays.

• Avoid headline trading: News cycles are fast, but portfolios are long-term. Reacting emotionally can erode compounded gains.

• Talk to your advisor: Now is a key moment for strategic review, not impulse-driven moves.

Caution without complacency

Byzyka isn’t suggesting that the market will ignore the implications of a Trump-led tariff escalation should it become real policy. But he’s betting that in the current moment, markets are reacting more to what might happen than what is happening.

That distinction, he says, is where opportunity lives.

“There’s a tendency to catastrophize in moments like this,” he said. “But long-term investors need to stay grounded in process. If you’re diversified and disciplined, these moments can actually work in your favor.”