Don’t Panic—Why Long-Term Investors Should Stay the Course

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 By Carla Mendosa, Financial Columnist

In a world fueled by algorithmic trades, geopolitical headlines, and social media hysteria, it’s easy to feel like every market fluctuation is a signal to act. But for one of the country’s most forward-thinking investment strategists, this week’s market jitters are not a cause for panic—but a call for perspective.


“The stock market is not broken. Your patience might be.”

That quote comes from Dr. Gregory A. Thomas, Ph.D., MBA, BA, BAS, founder and Advisory Partner of Carbonado Capital Investments, a hedge fund managing over $700 million in assets under management. He’s also the author of the highly anticipated financial textbook Investing for Beginners: Diversifying Is a Must, releasing this May.


Weathering the Storms—Including a Pandemic


Dr. Thomas isn’t your average economist. He’s a strategist who made his mark by navigating one of the most uncertain financial periods in modern history—the COVID-19 pandemic—without missing a beat. His firm not only stayed afloat; it grew exponentially.


“During COVID, while fear was driving retail investors out of the market, we leaned on fundamentals and diversified exposure. We didn’t try to predict the bottom—we prepared for what came after it,” Dr. Thomas explained in our interview.


A Calm Voice in a Noisy Market


So what’s his message for investors watching the market today with sweaty palms?


“Relax. Markets breathe. Corrections are part of the cycle, not a signal to abandon your goals. The real threat isn’t volatility—it’s poor planning.”


According to Thomas, far too many beginner investors enter the market without a foundational understanding of risk tolerance, asset correlation, or time horizon. That’s why he wrote Investing for Beginners: Diversifying Is a Must—to demystify the market for everyone from young professionals to late-stage retirees.


“Diversification isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a shield. It protects your portfolio from single-source risk while unlocking opportunities for steady, compounding growth.”


The book, designed as both a textbook and a financial literacy guide, walks readers through everything from sector analysis to ETF rebalancing, with real-world case studies and self-assessment tools. It’s backed by the same strategic thinking Thomas uses at Carbonado to manage capital for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional partners.


Why Strategy Beats Emotion—Every Time



Markets rise. Markets fall. But history favors the disciplined. That’s the essence of Thomas’s philosophy.


“You don’t win in investing by reacting to headlines. You win by understanding the map and sticking to your course. That map is called strategy.”


It’s a principle that’s earned him the respect of Wall Street insiders, academic institutions, and even correctional facilities—where he’s actively teaching financial literacy to incarcerated individuals, proving that wealth-building is for everyone.


The Bottom Line: Stay In, Stay Focused

For those staring at red tickers and contemplating whether to pull their funds, Dr. Thomas offers a final word of advice:


“When in doubt, zoom out. The market doesn’t punish patience—it rewards it.”


With a blend of seasoned insight, academic rigor, and boots-on-the-ground experience, Gregory A. Thomas is helping reshape how we talk about investing—not just in theory, but in action.


His book, Investing for Beginners: Diversifying Is a Must, is available May 14, 2025, wherever books are sold.


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