Ever check your portfolio before breakfast and lose your appetite?
If you’ve experienced cross-border investment anxiety, you’re not alone. One minute you’re thinking about coffee, the next you’re staring at a red number that wasn’t there yesterday. For Americans living in Israel, investing across time zones adds a layer of uncertainty. The markets move while you’re asleep, and by the time you’re scrolling headlines, it’s hard to tell what really caused the drop or what you’re supposed to do about it.
Last week, I spoke with a retired teacher in Jerusalem who experienced exactly that. He casually follows the news and trusts the long-term plan we built. But that morning, he logged in, saw a noticeable dip, and felt a wave of unease.
Managing Cross-Border Investment Anxiety With a Long-Term Plan
He called the office and when we spoke, asked, “Should I have done something?” The short answer? No. We had already built his plan to handle market dips, currency shifts, and his need for stability. And more importantly, it wasn’t built for reacting. We built it for real life.
Sharp drops often pressure you to act. But reacting too quickly, especially from across the globe, can lock in losses and derail progress. Staying the course may not feel satisfying in the moment, but it’s often the strongest move you can make.
Build A Plan That Stays Strong Under Pressure
By the end of our call, nothing about his portfolio had changed, but his perspective had. He felt better. Not because the numbers had changed, but because he remembered that his original plan took into account market volatility, currency exposure, and his need for stability. The plan hadn’t failed. It did exactly what we designed it to do under difficult market conditions Cross-border investment anxiety can make you question your plan, but with the right strategy, peace of mind is possible.
If you’re unsure whether your portfolio is built for a volatile market or if your asset allocation isn’t quite right, consider getting a second opinion. Get a free Cross-Border Financial Evaluation to see how we might be able to help at profile-financial.com/call.
Douglas Goldstein, CFP® is the director of Profile Investment Services, Ltd. www.Profile-Financial.com. He is a licensed financial professional both in the U.S. and Israel. Call (02) 624-2788 for a consultation on how to set up your American assets to meet your financial goals. Securities offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, FSI. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not those of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates. Neither PRG nor its affiliates provide tax or legal advice.
Published July 16, 2025.