The Only Thing Causing Chaos in the Markets Right Now

Summary

Podcast Summary

Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen)

Episode: The Only Thing Causing Chaos in the Markets Right Now
Date: March 29, 2026
Host: Suze Orman
Guest: Keith “Fitz” (Fitz-Gerald)

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Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the current volatility and chaos in the financial markets, with particular emphasis on how oil prices—driven by geopolitical events—have become the central factor impacting stocks, bonds, and real estate. Suze and Fitz discuss strategies for navigating uncertainty, where to seek stability, and how investors should respond emotionally and practically to such turbulent times.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dominant Role of Oil in Market Volatility

• Geopolitical tensions involving Iran have caused oil prices to surge, destabilizing global markets.
  • “Everything now seems to be simply dependent on one thing and one thing only, and that is oil, in my opinion.” — Suze (02:12)
• Historically strong fundamentals and earnings are being overridden by sudden external shocks.

2. Psychological Impact and Market Behavior

• Investor psychology and FOMO (“fear of missing out”) are driving market swings.
  • “The reason these markets don’t go up and stay up is people are buying because of what we both call FOMO.” — Suze (07:56)
• Reminder: Short-term chaos can tempt investors to panic sell, but this is rarely a good move.

3. How to Respond as an Investor

• Staying Invested: “If you jump off [the boat], you’re going to have a problem. You just got to wait this one out.” — Fitz (02:33)
• Diversification within quality: Move toward solid, dividend-paying stocks like Chevron (energy) and specialized REITs like Care Trust (healthcare real estate).
• Treasuries as a Safe Haven: Short-term U.S. Treasuries (e.g., SGOV) provide safety and attractive yields.

4. Specific Investment Picks

• Chevron (CVX):
  • Remains a favorite due to its stability and dividend, even at high prices.
  • “You can balance [tech stock losses] like a teeter-totter… with a stock like Chevron.” — Fitz (03:38)
• Care Trust (CTRE):
  • Healthcare REIT benefiting from aging demographics, offering a stable dividend (3.5–3.7%).
  • “It’s a specialized trust that cares for medicine, recovery care after surgery… one of the few areas… dynamic yet calm, dependable.” — Fitz (10:52)
• Microsoft:
  • Top tech pick despite the sector’s sharp declines.
  • “Because this is a stock that is on the cusp of transforming our planet. … It’s about the AI. … It’s being thrown out with the bathwater right now.” — Fitz (14:11)

5. Real Estate Market Outlook

• Higher oil and interest rates are pressuring mortgage rates and building costs.
  • “When the ten year goes up, guess what else goes up everybody? Your mortgage interest.” — Suze (10:05)
• Caution urged for both buyers and sellers; REITs may offer a safer alternative.

6. Practical Investment Strategies

• Dollar-Cost Averaging (Microsoft example):
  • “Take whatever amount of money it is… divide it by 12 and invest that amount per month.” — Fitz (14:53)
• Diversification, but with intention:
  • Modern diversification means investing in strong, leading companies and sectors rather than merely having a mix.
  • “Diversification as it used to work, doesn’t work any longer… So stick to quality. Buy the best, ignore the rest.” — Fitz (19:35)

7. The Importance of Time Horizon and Emotional Discipline

• Only invest money you won’t need for 5–15 years.
  • “You only invest with money that you have at least 5, 10, 15 years that you will need…” — Suze (19:13)
• Acknowledge fear, but realize volatility creates opportunity for patient investors.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the psychological rollercoaster:
  • “When in doubt, you zoom out and take a much bigger picture… a quality company is going to be there when you need it.” — Fitz (05:16)
• On historic resilience:
  • “For example, in early 2000, Amazon lost 97% of its value. That’s incomprehensible to people today.” — Fitz (05:16)
• On embracing opportunities:
  • “Whenever I get to feel like this way, it means I got to lean in because it means there's opportunity.” — Fitz (17:03)
• On being present in the market:
  • “Even one share psychologically is more valuable than any of the nonsense… or maybe even the stock itself.” — Fitz (15:58)
• On recapping investing priorities:
  • “People first, go on second, then things.” — Fitz (21:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:02] — Suze’s frustration with market chaos & the role of oil
• [02:12] — Oil’s outsized impact on all markets
• [03:38] — How to balance portfolios in volatility (Chevron, Treasuries)
• [06:03] — Suze’s doubts about prior market optimism, questioning downside levels
• [08:46] — Fitz forecasts a strong rally once certainty returns
• [10:05] — Oil’s effect on real estate and mortgage rates
• [10:52] — Why Care Trust REIT is a preferred real estate option
• [13:58] — Fitz’s #1 tech pick: Microsoft (with rationale)
• [14:53] — Dollar-cost averaging strategy explained
• [15:58] — Psychological value of staying invested (even one share)
• [17:03] — Recap of strong pre-crisis fundamentals
• [19:13] — Investment time horizon advice
• [19:35] — Diversification redefined
• [21:55] — “People first, go on second, then things.”

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Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Oil prices and related geopolitical instability are currently the primary force behind market chaos.
• Investors are urged to stay calm, maintain quality-focused diversification, and leverage strategies like dollar-cost averaging.
• Safe harbors include select dividend stocks (Chevron), healthcare REITs (Care Trust), and short-term Treasuries.
• Patience and emotional discipline are pivotal; remember investing is long-term.
• Above all, focus on "People first, go on second, then things."

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This summary encapsulates the key ideas, major recommendations, and memorable guidance from Suze Orman and Fitz on navigating today's turbulent markets.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, Susie.

[B]

Spring is in the air. It most certainly is, my dear. And listen, everybody, you should all spring into action if in fact, you're looking for a home equity line of credit. If you have a home equity line of credit at a high interest rate, check out the Ultimate Opportunity Home equity line of credit at Alliant Credit Union. Go to myalliant.com and look for all the details right there.

[C]

If you'd like to watch a video version of this particular episode, head over to YouTube.com suziorman don't forget to like and subscribe.

[B]

March 29, 2026 welcome, everybody, to the Women and Money podcast. And everybody is smart enough to listen, especially today, because Fitz is. Is with us. So I'm going to get right to it. Hey, Fitz, how are you?

[A]

I'm doing great. Thanks as always for having me.

[B]

All right, so can we just talk? I need to talk to somebody because I'm just, like, so frustrated, I can't even tell you. So let me tell you why. And I'm sure everybody listening, they're probably feeling the same way. The fundamentals of the stocks that are on the stock exchange, meaning their earnings are how they're doing, their profitability have been solid. So the fundamentals behind this entire market were so strong until somebody decided, let's change that. And they went after Iran. And now we have oil. And now we're watching oil go up and up and up, and sometimes it comes back down. And when it comes back down, that's when we see the markets go up. Is that correct?

[A]

That's absolutely correct. And it's correct because of all the leverage between the oil and everything else in the market. Suzy.

[B]

All right, so here we are. Oil is at its, like, high since July of 2022.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Everything now seems to be simply dependent on one thing and one thing only, and that is oil, in my opinion. And when we have a market that is absolutely being destroyed in so many ways based on one thing known as oil, what do you tell people to do Now, Keith, what do we do?

[A]

Well, there's two things. Stay in if you can. Number two, remember that psychology is driving all this. The businesses are great. In fact, the business case for owning many of these companies is getting stronger. So what you got to do now is imagine you're on a boat out to ocean. The waves have picked up. If you jump off, you're going to have a problem. You just got to wait this one out.

[B]

But, you know, it's so easy to say that.

[A]

I know.

[B]

It's like I'm gonna wait it out, but here I am. Many of my tech stocks are down 20, 30, 50%. Some of them, you have some stocks that are down 5%, 10%. You now have the NASDAQ, the Standard Poor's, all essentially pretty much in correction territory. You have gold that has absolutely lost at least $1,000 an ounce. You have Bitcoin that has no ability to do any go down, especially in the case of war. So where do people run or hide? Because it kind of feels like to me there's no place to go, there's nothing to do. So what should they do besides just keep what they have?

[A]

Well, respectfully, I push back on that a little bit. And here's why is a company like Chevron, which we of course talked about for months and months and months leading into this, is a global producer with dinosaur juice that we're going to need for a very, very long time. It's got a great dividend and it's very stable. So. So if you're freaked out because all of your tech has gone one direction, you can balance that like a little kid's teeter totter on the playground with a stock like Chevron, or you can go into something like Escov, which is short term US Treasuries, super safe, great yield, not going to go anywhere. You can sleep at night. So there are still choices, even though the ocean's getting a little bumpy or a little spicy.

[B]

So I just have to go back to the Chevron because that was your number one energy pick. And the last time that you were on, you said, it is my number one. It was about 1, 189, 190, maybe the next Monday. Whenever it came on, it went down to 187. And all these people.

[A]

Oh yeah, not all of them, but

[B]

if it's one, it was too many. They said, no way are we listening to the two of you. How can you be buying something at its high? You don't buy it at its high. You wait till it comes down. And now here we are. And where is it as the close of Friday?

[A]

Oh, it's up in the 200s.

[B]

Yeah. So last I looked at it was like 206, 207, 208. It's trading right in there still with a decent sized dividend. So when people look at their stocks and they go, oh my God, it's so high, it's so high. I have to wait until it goes down. Can you just tell them what a big mistake that is. And why.

[A]

Sure. Take a look at a chart. Pick any stock you want, just any of the household names that we've talked about, any of the stocks you own. Zoom out to 20 years and tell me that that chart doesn't go high to low, low to high over that time period. So it feels bad at moments in time, but when in doubt, you zoom out and you take a much bigger picture because a quality company is going to be there when you need it, regardless of the short term noise. And that's the perspective that so many people miss. You got to just simply relax, look at that bigger picture. Because many times, for example, in early 2000, Amazon lost 97% of its value. That's incomprehensible to people today. They simply forget their history. We're going to get through this in stocks like Chevron, which people argue about with me till they're blue in the face, continue to go up over time.

[B]

So I hear you. Maybe a few people that have time on their side and everything, and they understand all this. Hear you. But the majority of the people are like, stop telling me to zoom out. Stop. Stop telling me just to be patient. I'm totally freaked out. So you know how at the end of last year, Keith, we had a thing where we were telling everybody, you know, in 2025, we think that the Standing and Poor's is going to end up at like 7,000, 7,400. We were so optimistic. I'm having a hard time being optimistic right now. I understand holding on to everything we have. I also understand that this whole market is based on oil. And it was just announced on Friday that chances are we're still going to be there two or four more weeks. We have thousands of soldiers going there. All right, so if you look at the markets right now and they continue like this and you see oil at 120, 125. Where do you think the downside could be at this point in time? I personally think it's really easy to see the Standard and Poor's down at about 6,000 when it's at 6,300 right now. What do you think?

[A]

Well, I think that's not impossible either, you know, and the trick is the selling's going to continue until all the leverage exhausts itself. That's the unknown here. It's not the politics. It's not the individual in the White House. It's not the conflict. It's the fact that Wall street is doing what's called resetting risk. Suzy, they're simply looking around the globe and going, we're where's the certainty? And it doesn't exist right now. But the certainty, if you and I look at it as investors, is the individual companies, the Chevrons of the world with the great earnings, the dividend, the S govs of the world, where we can park our cash, stash it for safety, that stuff we can control rather than worrying about the stuff we can't. And it's hard.

[B]

You know, you just said the word certainty. And the reason that these markets don't go up and stay up is people are buying because of what we both call fomo. They are afraid of missing out. And so they see it go down a little and then they go, they've got to get it. And then it goes up and they go, I caught it. And then it goes right back down. The trick, everybody, and tell me if you agree with me, Keith, is that once things are certain and people really feel like, oh, oil's calmed down, this has happened, whatever it is, and they're buying because it's a good investment, they know what's happening out there. Don't you think when that eventually happens that we probably will see these markets skyrocket again?

[A]

Oh, there's no doubt. I agree with you 100%. When certainty returns, we're going to get a rip your face off rally and everybody who thinks they're being smart by stepping out right now is going to get left behind. So that's really the trade off you got to make today is how much do you want to risk that FOMO versus a logical controlled investing process over time, even if it scares the snot out of you.

[B]

And you know, it's not just oil. Look at what happened to bonds. You have a 10 year treasury now at 4.4, 4.5, you have almost a 30 year at 5% again. What does that indicate to you and what would you be telling people to do when interest rates are getting higher like they are right now?

[A]

Well, the logical trade off is that's when you start looking at do I want to stash my cash or do I want to continue to take risk? What it really is is not just yield on your money, it's a reflection of global risk. And right now, global traders, not investors, traders, and there's a distinction, are saying, oh, it's risky. But investors are saying, okay, I can do something with that 4 and something percent that's good to me, I can get a return on my money as opposed to the return of my money, which is what traders are concerned about,

[B]

we talk about stocks a lot, but we also have to talk about something that almost everybody has, which is real estate.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Do they sell? Do they buy? And the truth of the matter is everybody oil affects everything and you have really got to get that. And it also affects the lumber, everything that you're using to build homes, to renovate and all of those things. When you combine that along with interest rates being higher, because when the 10 year goes up, guess what else goes up? Everybody. Your mortgage. Interest. So if you're looking for a new mortgage right now, remember how just a little bit ago, Keith, we were like, oh, 5.55 went in there for a 30 year, now we're back at almost six and a half and it's going to go higher. So would you be an investor in real estate right now? And if so, how would you be investing in it?

[A]

Oh, that's a great question. It actually is going to bring me right back to a favorite choice of yours and mine, Care Trust. It's a real estate investment trust, kicks off great income, but specifically it's a specialized trust that cares for medicine, recovery care after surgery. So as we all get older, as we all need medical care, this is one of the few areas of real estate where you have a very dynamic yet calm, placid, dependable approach going forward. It's much better than individual real estate in my opinion at this moment.

[B]

You still love Chevron. You're still buying Chevron, right?

[A]

Yep. Oh, yeah, lots of more today as a matter of fact.

[B]

So you know what's funny is a few days ago on my Women Money community app, I posted a chart of Chevron and I posted it just without any reason why. And everybody was like, is she telling us to buy more? Is she telling us to sell? What should she be telling us to do? Why? The reason I posted it was to say to all of you that were doubters and it's not over everybody that no matter where oil goes, this is still a solid stock. So let's just get that out of the way even right here. Keith would be buying more when it comes to a dividend paying stock to have some diversification within there. Both of us really still like Care Trust, I think the symbol is. Is it CTRE or C rte? What is it? Something like that.

[A]

Ctre, I believe.

[B]

All right. And it's paying a really nice dividend, like about 3.5, 3.7% still. We're all getting older. Is that true, Keith?

[A]

No, we're just, we're just getting younger. But we're celebrating more frequent birthdays.

[B]

Oh, is that what's happening here? You have to look at everybody. What's happening in the United States is we are. We're getting older and older and older. So if you're going to go into an REIT and you want a good dividend, do it in an area that's not going to become obsolete, that is going to be able to help everybody that's getting older. So it's safe there when it comes to individual real estate. Keith, buying a home right now, selling a home right now, what would you tell everybody?

[A]

Well, I think that if you can pay off your home right now and you own it and you're comfortable in it, then stay put because you don't know what the real estate market's gonna do. If your pockets of places that are growing, great, maybe you'll get lucky. But we're seeing a lot of sellers walk away. So I would just tread lightly, tread carefully, tread intelligently, but meanwhile, continue to invest in something like Care Trust.

[B]

Yeah, but here's the truth. Not many people have the ability to just pay off their home.

[A]

I know.

[B]

So just think about where the future is going and what you can do to protect your tomorrow's today. All right, so now we've given them two more stocks. Now, obviously, technology has absolutely been obliterated. Not just 5%, but 30, 40%. If you had a number one technology pick right now, what would you be picking?

[A]

No question about it. Microsoft.

[B]

All right, now, Microsoft's been obliterated just again on Friday. It's been obliterated every day. Tell everybody why that would be your number one technology pick.

[A]

Because this is a stock that is on the cusp of transforming our planet. It's a stock that billions of people depend on to bring them together. It's not just about the software anymore. It's about the AI. It's about the working together. It's about the data transmission, the data reception, how you can process stuff. The copilot, it's rolling out. This company has its fingers in so many different pies, all of which are essential to our world. It's got a global footprint. You know, it's being thrown out with the bathwater right now. And that's a function of the large traders because Microsoft itself is financially very, very sound and very, very capable and growing rapidly.

[B]

If you're going to be buying Microsoft right now, you don't own any of it. How would you stage into it?

[A]

Well, I would buy a little bit at first and then I would Very carefully, deliberately take, you know, whatever amount of money it is. I'd look out 12 months, I divide it by 12 and I would invest that amount per month religiously. Up or down, doesn't matter. Grit your teeth if you smile, if you want to, but consistently over the next 12 months, just split it up, slow down your buying, but continue to dollar cost average in because that is how you make this kind of volatility that's scary and nasty actually work for you. So Susie, I have a question for you. What would you say to somebody who says I've got to invest in Europe right now? That's a very popular line of thinking.

[B]

Well, I would tell them probably to think about it. Japan has done very well this year. The European dividend paying ETFs are, are up like 55% this year. So I think that it doesn't hurt to have some diversification. But truthfully, Keith, I'm a United States kind of gal. I like investing right here, knowing what I'm investing in and this isn't the time to be. I'm not going to invest anymore. I'm not going to do anything.

[A]

So on days where this stuff really hits the fan, you're terrified, you're uncertain. I will often buy a single share of something, just one share, because either that's the money I had available to me when I was young or even today because it helps me stay in the game, because I know I'm playing to win. And so even one share psychologically is more valuable than any of the nonsense or any of the news or maybe even the stock itself.

[B]

I'm still an investor, but I'm still watching. But there are so many people really that are just so frozen right now. And what I really wanted everybody to understand is this really isn't about the stock market. No, this really has almost nothing to do with the stock market. Everybody before Iran. And we'll let Keith reiterate this. How great were the earnings, the fundamentals, everything? Just looking at the stocks and the companies themselves, almost all of them, how great were they?

[A]

Well, 92% of them reported earnings and EPS surprises of 70 some odd percent above expectations. We had a blended growth rate of 14% for the S&P 500. We had growth rate that were averaging upward trajectory in terms of the ratings that analysts were assigning to them. The CEOs were very positive. So if you look at what that fabric looks like, it was growth, it was positive, it was things that you want to hear. So it's all the headlines and the social media and the angst, that has really clouded things. And I think it's a very tough spot to be in. It's scary. I mean, I'm a parent, I'm a husband, I'm a father. I feel all this angst, too. But that shows you're human and you're paying attention. So one of the things I've learned over the years, strange as it sounds, is whenever I get to feel like this way, it means I got to lean in because it means there's opportunity. And again, I've learned that lesson the hard way. I thought I was being smart. I bailed out, I made mistakes, I lost money. But if you continue to lean in when you feel that way and you get uncomfortable, I've learned that that's a heck of a lot more profitable if you can do it.

[B]

So if you just heard all those numbers that can drive you crazy that you just said, all right, and you could understand that. The companies themselves, we'll see what happens next earnings season. But the companies themselves fundamentally are strong right now. And really the culprit that has pulled out the rug underneath every one of these stocks, the stock market, the treasury, everything is oil. It all, in my opinion, boils down to oil. And do not be surprised if you don't see oil continue to go up and up and up. And it will not be until this is solved. You'll have to tell me if you agree, Keith, until this problem is solved, that you're going to see a stock market that has a clue of what it wants to do. What do you think?

[A]

Agreed. Agreed and agreed. And when that happens, the prices are going to crater so fast, people's heads are going to spin, which of course means the stock market is going to go the other direction. So we'll all get to smile and relax a little bit when that happens.

[B]

So in just recapping the rules of the game again are you only invest with money that you have at least 5, 10, 15 years that you will need, all right? You don't invest with money that you're going to need next month or a down payment on a home or whatever. Talk about diversification, Keith.

[A]

Well, diversification as it used to work, doesn't work any longer. So what you want to do is think intelligently about diversifying in the right companies and, and themes. That's the stuff that's going to make you a fortune over time. So diversification, the new way to do it is to follow things like the AI, like the oil, like the politics. We're talking about, because that's where the money concentrates and it crosses all the different industries. So stick to quality, Buy the best, ignore the rest. As trite as that sounds, it's a path to profits.

[B]

All right, so hopefully everybody subscribes to your five with Fits. Tell them what five with Fits is, Keith.

[A]

Oh, boy. You are very kind. So I began the five with Fits personally, and I've written it for myself for decades because it helps me clarify my thinking. It's free. It will always be free, but it's literally my stream of consciousness as to how I prepare to invest every single day. And somebody said, share it during COVID and I thought, nobody's going to be interested. Today. There's tens of thousands of people around the world who read it, and it's really humbling, and frankly, I love it. You know, I know you read it, Susie, and you've told me. Enjoy it. So thank you.

[B]

I look for my name in it, Keith.

[A]

Yes, you do.

[B]

I'm like, come on, mention me. But everybody, I wanted Keith to tell you all about that because we have a lot of new people all the time, and especially on YouTube. And so just every day, check in, because what I really think all of you need at times like this is a voice of reason, a voice of knowledge, a voice of knowing. And while I'm also that voice, I don't come to you every single day. I come to you on Tuesdays or Thursdays or whenever you happen to tune into the podcast or we decide to do a YouTube posting. So get that little hit every day to keep yourself grounded. All right, Keith, anything else you want to say?

[A]

No, just hang in there, everybody. This is tough, but you know what? We are going to get through this. There's no doubt. History shows that very clearly with Susie's guidance, because I read Susie's stuff every week. You know, we're all going to be there in this together.

[B]

Yeah, but it could take time. So just be patient, everybody. This is a market.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

That's going to take time to settle down. So until next time, there's only one thing we want them to remember. Right, Keith?

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

Well, say it. You know how to say it.

[A]

People first go on second, then things.

[B]

Right? You got it. All right, bye. Bye, everybody. See you soon.

[A]

We are strong, we are wise we will not apologize we are here we will thrive Together we will rise we're the little bit of faith and everything it takes we are strong, we are wise Together we will rise

[B]

Hi, everybody. Suzy O. Here. And I have to tell all of you. There is one benefit that I know all of you need and your corporations need to offer and it comes from a company that I helped co found over five years ago by the name of Secure Save. So whether you're an employee or an employer, I want you to go to securesave.com Suzy S U Z E and take a look at what I have for you there. I promise you you're gonna like it.

[C]

All right now neither Suze Orman Media nor Suze Orman is acting as a Certified Financial Planner Advisor, a Certified Financial Analyst, an economist, cpa, accountant or lawyer. Neither Suze Orman Media nor Suze Orman make any recommendations as to any specific securities or investments. All content contained in this podcast is for informational and general purposes only and does not constitute financial accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and financial advisors regarding your particular situation. Neither Suze Orman Media nor Suze Orman accepts any responsibility for any losses which may arise from accessing or reliance on information in this podcast and to the fullest extent permitted by law, we exclude all liability for loss damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of this information. The must have documents discussed in this podcast are legal documents created by a lawyer and distributed by Hay House. Thanks for listening.