Suze Orman recently addressed the growing financial anxiety many Americans are feeling, warning that panic is the worst reaction to economic uncertainty. Speaking on her “Women & Money” podcast, Orman emphasized the importance of staying calm and sticking to a solid financial plan — even when the stock market is volatile and the news cycle is unpredictable.
Orman acknowledged that feelings of fear and confusion are natural when the economy is turbulent. Job losses, fluctuating stock markets, and mixed signals about tariffs and inflation have left many people feeling uncertain. However, Orman cautioned that making financial decisions out of fear can undermine long-term stability.
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“The absolute worst thing that you can be doing right now is panic and make decisions that hurt your long-term security,” Orman said. “When you make decisions out of fear, it affects you long-term.”
She explained that professional traders often take advantage of market swings, and when individual investors react emotionally — selling when the market dips and buying back when it rises — they end up losing money. Orman stressed that successful investing requires patience and a steady hand.
Rather than reacting to short-term market movements, Orman advised listeners to focus on their personal financial foundation. She highlighted several key steps to strengthen financial security, starting with building an emergency fund.
“You have got to have an emergency fund of at least eight to 12 months of must-pay expenses,” Orman said. “If you don’t, your number one priority is to absolutely build that up.”
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She also warned against taking on new debt unless absolutely necessary. She said that high-interest debt should be paid down or transferred to a low-interest or zero-interest card where possible.
“Don’t take on any unnecessary debt,” Orman stressed. “No new credit card debt, no new car loans unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
When it comes to investing, Orman stays true to what she teaches and advises against trying to time the market. She said that markets naturally go through ups and downs, but they still tend to grow over time. Selling investments when the market drops can lock in losses that investors could have avoided when the market eventually rebounds.
