Why I Still Believe in Retirement Accounts: This Pullback Hurts. Don’t Blow Up Your Future.

Let me say something that might get some side-eye.

Your 401(k) still matters.

Your Roth IRA matters.

And no, you’re not a sucker for putting money into accounts you can’t touch for 20 or 30 years.

I know that’s not the loudest take right now. Short-term noise is deafening.

Between tariffs possibly jacking up prices, inflation already hurting us, and this brutal market pullback—we’ve dropped nearly 20% since February. It’s easy to feel like the sky’s falling.

Even in the chaos, the best time to build your future is still today.

Yeah, This Pullback Hurts

I’ll be honest—I haven’t been sleeping great lately.

This volatility feels scary.

My long-term portfolio’s taken a hit.

I bet yours has too.

But here’s why I’m not pulling out of my retirement accounts:

Markets have always had rough patches—and history shows they usually recover over a longer time frame. This never feels good.

By the time we’re cracking open those IRAs, this moment will be nothing more than a footnote.

Future you will either high-five you… or kick you for giving up.

The Problem No One Talks About…

Most people have no clue what’s in their 401(k).

Back when I was still clocking in at corporate, even the sharpest people I knew:

Had no idea what funds they picked

Never checked expense ratios

Just accepted whatever default their HR portal spit out

It’s not their fault.

These plans are built to check legal boxes—not to help you actually build wealth.

But when the market tanks, that confusion turns into panic.

And you’re left staring at your shrinking balance with no idea what’s going on.

Hidden Fees = Hidden Damage

A 1% difference in annual fees can eat up over 25% of your retirement savings over 35 years.

That’s compounding—working against you.

And in a pullback like this?

Those fees hit even harder.

When I was building my 401(k), I focused on:

Maxing out the employer match (free cash, baby)
Dodging high-fee funds
Parking money in broad index funds tied to the S&P 500
Letting it ride

Now that I’ve ditched the 9–5, I’ve rolled that 401(k) into a self-directed IRA.

Even with markets wobbling, I’m not selling everything.

Why?

Because cashing out now just locks in losses.

I’m betting on 2040—not next Tuesday.

“But I Need That Money Now…”

Trust me—I get it.

Tariffs will make things more expensive.

Inflation has already squeezed everyone.

And when your account’s bleeding red, it’s tempting to pull the plug.

I’ve stared at my balance too, heart racing, wondering if I’m crazy for staying in.

But here’s the thing:

If every dollar you make today gets spent today, you’re just running in place.

The only way out is building something that pays you later—

Cash flow. Ownership. Freedom.

Retirement accounts aren’t about tying up your money.

They’re about securing your future moves.

Even small deposits can grow big.

Picture this:

$5,000 in a Roth IRA today, growing at 7% annually, could hit $25,000 in 25 years.

That’s not a lottery ticket. That’s just math.

And pullbacks like this?

They’re when stocks go on sale—if you’ve got the guts to keep investing.

Pro Tip: Automate It

Got a raise? Bump your 401(k) contribution by 1%.

You won’t miss it—

But your future self will love you for it.

Then open a Roth IRA.

Stick with no-drama brokerages like Tastytrade (they’re offering a bonus to get started).

Buy a low-cost ETF like $SPY or $VOO… and walk away.

Right now, even with the market down, I’m still dollar-cost averaging into SPY.

Scary? Hell yeah.

Smart? History says so.

My Retirement Accounts Aren’t Flashy. They’re Bulletproof.

I don’t have a 401(k) anymore—I’m done with cubicles.

But the accounts I built are still chugging along (okay… stumbling a bit the last couple of months).

I didn’t get here by chasing hot stocks or timing dips.

I got here by showing up consistently.

While X is buzzing with tariff panic and crash predictions, I’m thinking about 2008, 2020, and every other “end of the world” moment that wasn’t.

The S&P 500 has averaged about 10% annually since 1928—crashes and all.

(Source: MacroTrends)

That’s what keeps me steady.

Final Thought

Don’t let TikTok Furus, Instagram hype, or panic posts on X mess with your long game.

401(k)s and IRAs aren’t perfect—they’re clunky, they’ve got rules, and yeah, they’re hurting right now.

But they’re still one of the best tools we’ve got.

Pair them with smart choices and a long-term view, and they deliver peace of mind—and serious cash down the road.

This pullback’s testing me too.

It’s loud. It’s unnerving.

It’s got me checking my accounts more than I’d like.

But I’m not abandoning ship. I’m sticking with the boring, proven plan that’s outlasted every crisis before this one.

Because that’s not hype. That’s just math. See you right here next week, much sooner in the Good Kids Trading Discord

Turning knowledge into wealth,

-$Maxwell