How to Build a Balanced Portfolio and Navigate Market Volatility AMA | The Bid investing podcast

Kristy Akullian argues that the best starting point for younger investors is to begin early, give money different jobs, and match risk to each goal’s time horizon. For someone in their 20s, that means thinking about retirement, but also near-term goals like a car or house, each with a separate plan.

For investors in their 30s, she stresses financial discipline: use the time left for compounding, prioritize pre-tax retirement investing, and build habits around budgeting, monthly saving, and after-tax investing for shorter-term needs. Her line is that “what gets measured gets managed,” meaning progress improves when goals are tracked consistently.

Akullian also says volatile markets require emotional discipline. She notes that sharp sell-offs and rebounds often cluster together, so trying to jump in and out can mean missing the bounce. On portfolio construction, she explains bonds as ballast, futures as leveraged hedging tools, and AI investing as increasingly selective: higher-quality companies with stronger balance sheets and earnings are being rewarded, while speculative names are being punished. She adds that heavy AI spending may crowd out other investments and make diversification more important.