| As the S&P 500 erases losses stemming from last month’s tariff announcement, Donald Trump may be right to encourage investors to open up their portfolios and take action. But it isn’t necessarily the time to be buying, like the US president said on Thursday. Rather, financial advisers told me while I was filling in for Charlie Wells on this week’s Wealth newsletter, that the market’s fast recovery is more so a golden opportunity to reassess portfolio allocations and prepare for the months ahead. The president’s steeper-than-expected tariff announcement on April 2 roiled markets, driving many to pull out of the S&P 500 as it fell into a correction. Those who followed the age-old advice from wealth managers — to hold steady and even buy during downturns — have been rewarded. But with stocks now potentially seeing a period of relative calm, advisers say it might be time to re-examine investments. The president’s trade war is far from over and many still fear a recession is on the horizon. So, with that in mind, here are three tips from financial advisers for navigating the months ahead. Increase Your Cash Buffer For those feeling concerned about either their portfolio or job security, nothing assuages anxiety like a mound of cash. Financial advisers typically recommend having an emergency fund of three to six months take-home pay. But if you’re worried, you can always add more. It’s never a good idea to panic-sell, but if you have fresh money you would normally put into stocks, one option is to choose a certificate of deposit or short-term bonds, said Eric Roberge, founder of the Boston-based financial planning firm Beyond Your Hammock. Many CDs right now are yielding 4% or more, such as Goldman’s Marcus 14-month option yielding 4.4%, or Barclays’ 12-month CD with a 4% rate. Locking in that yield with a CD is also helpful in case the Federal Reserve lowers benchmark interest rates in the coming months, Roberge said. Look International With US markets experiencing volatility, international stocks are becoming a more appealing option. It’s not too late to boost your exposure abroad, experts say. “I would encourage people to look at where they are invested around the world,” said Sarah Paulson, owner of Valkyrie Financial in Wisconsin. “Try to take some concentration off of things.” So far this year, the MSCI EAFE Index of developed countries excluding the US is up 12%, compared with a 3% drop for the S&P 500. No one is suggesting that you shift all your money to international holdings. But just like how you want a healthy mix of stocks and bonds in your portfolio, make sure you’re also considering geographic diversity too. There are several ETFs you can buy to add international stocks. Two of the largest ones are the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) and the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA). Tune Out the News Normally, journalists might be hesitant to circulate advice telling their readers to stop reading. But in times of crazy market moves, advisers say it can be good to take a break. Paying too much attention to daily stock gains and losses can just stress you out, and increase the temptation to make a rash decision. Jeremy Keil, financial advisor at Keil Financial Partners in Wisconsin, has the perfect example of why this can be smart. He said that he sends a monthly statement to his clients, and recently realized that the March and April documents looked remarkably similar, at least for US stocks. “If you didn't look at the news and all you saw was your April statement, you wouldn’t know anything had happened,” he said. — Claire Ballentine P.S. Send questions about your own financial dilemmas to bbgwealth@bloomberg.net. We may get expert answers for you, and feature your question and the answer in an upcoming newsletter. Bitcoin is recovering from its recent slump. The largest digital asset topped $100,000 on Thursday for the first time since February. News that the US and China plan to hold trade talks is boosting the cryptocurrency this week. Trump’s sweeping tariff program and subsequent market turmoil have knocked backed crypto prices in recent months. Tech firm Arm Holdings Plc declined Thursday after a disappointing sales forecast. That’s stoking investor fears about the chip industry facing a slowdown due to Trump’s tariffs. Shares fell as much as 8% after markets opened in New York. Florida Home Prices Post Biggest Decline in at Least 13 Years Florida’s housing boom has now shifted into reverse, with prices sliding by the most in at least 13 years. The median price for all types of homes fell 1.7% in March from a year earlier, according to Redfin Corp. data going back to 2012. The post-pandemic influx of out-of-state buyers has faded, pressuring demand. Home sales have fallen. Inventory is now at a record high in the data going back to 2012. Rising insurance costs and high mortgage rates have strained affordability. Car-Loan Billionaire Hankey Lists Mansion for $43.85 Million  The second floor pool deck of the Highland Beach home. Source: Monocle Perhaps, not all of Florida real estate is feeling the pinch though. Don Hankey, a staunch Trump supporter known for his subprime car-loan empire, is listing his Florida mansion for $43.85 million, a nearly 50% markup from his 2021 purchase price. The seven-bedroom home on Highland Beach, 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) south of Palm Beach, has a six-car garage, a movie theater and a 3,000 square-foot (279-square-meter) sky deck. This week, we’re looking for people who have taken out home equity lines of credit recently. If this is you or someone you know, we’d love to set up a time to speak. Some of our best journalism at Bloomberg Wealth comes from your own stories and we want to hear from you, your friends or clients. Please email bbgwealth@bloomberg.net if you’d like to get in touch. | 
