…From a financial perspective, Trump’s first 100 days registered one of the worst stock market runs for a new president since Gerald Ford in 1974, following Richard Nixon’s resignation
By Rebecca Ellis
FRI MAY 02 2025-theGBJournal| April 30th 2025, marked the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency.
He promised Americans “a boom like no other” if elected. Depending on your definition of “boom,” the action has certainly been explosive.
From a financial perspective, Trump’s first 100 days registered one of the worst stock market runs for a new president since Gerald Ford in 1974, following Richard Nixon’s resignation.
Compounding this were historically low approval ratings and volatile statements, often followed by retractions—signaling a new economic direction no longer anchored in predictability or policy stability.
Beyond humanitarian or geopolitical concerns, this period presents an opportunity to examine the personality traits that drive leadership in chaotic times—and what we might learn about ourselves in the process.
Understanding Behaviour Through Personality
Trump’s early presidency provides a vivid case study of the “Challenger with Maverick energy”—a term drawn from the Enneagram personality framework, where he would likely align with Type 8w7.
This personality type is bold, confrontational, and thrives on high-stakes situations. Trump displayed classic traits of this type: dominance, a desire to disrupt norms, and an unshakeable belief in his ability to win against the odds.
These characteristics translated directly into behavioural finance patterns. For instance:
Overconfidence bias: Seen in his rapid attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act without consensus—an ambitious but poorly coordinated move based on deep self-belief.
Illusion of control: Trump claimed he could single-handedly boost economic growth and renegotiate trade deals before key departments were even formed.
Risk-seeking behaviour: Evident in controversial executive orders, such as the travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries—decisive, but politically and legally explosive.
Confirmation bias: His preference for loyal advisors and media sources like Fox News reinforced his worldview while dismissing dissent as “fake news.”
Sunk cost fallacy: His refusal to pivot on failing policies or rhetoric reflected a resistance to admitting error, even when public reaction was negative.
Together, these behaviours mirror the decision-making risks and rewards of dominant, self-assured individuals who favour momentum and image over deliberation and data.
What Does This Mean for You?
With 1,360 days potentially remaining in such a presidency —or any prolonged period of economic and political turbulence – the need to build resilience in your financial thinking is critical.
How to Manage Times of Stress in Your Investment Portfolio
In uncertain times, step one is to pause and review your financial goals. If you haven’t set them clearly, begin by reverse-engineering from where you want to be. Once your goals are defined, the next question becomes:
How do you behave under pressure?
This isn’t just about knowing the numbers. It’s about understanding your financial personality—so you can build systems to manage the stress, noise, and emotional strain of volatile environments.
From a behavioral finance perspective, the following biases are especially common during chaos:
Loss aversion: The fear of losing money may lead to panic selling or overly conservative choices that miss recovery opportunities.
Herd behaviour: Following others without critical thinking can magnify volatility.
Availability bias: Overreacting to dramatic recent news while ignoring broader trends.
Overreaction bias: Making sharp portfolio changes based on short-term headlines rather than long-term strategy.
Emotional contagion: Letting media-driven anxiety override rational thinking.
Understanding your personality type—whether assertive, cautious, or reactive—helps you recognize these patterns. For example, some people overtrade in panic, while others retreat to cash and avoid opportunities. Tools like the Enneagram can act as a behavioural compass, helping you stay aligned with long-term plans through self-awareness, discipline, and perspective.
Understanding your personality type—whether assertive, cautious, or reactive—helps you recognise the patterns that influence your financial decisions. For example, some people overtrade in moments of panic, while others retreat to cash and miss valuable opportunities.
Tools like the Enneagram can act as a behavioural compass, helping you stay aligned with long-term goals through greater self-awareness, discipline, and perspective.
For our readers, we are offering an introductory call to explore more about your Financial Personality with a Financial and Personalised Road Map session, backed by behavioural finance.
Rebecca Ellis, ARIF Swiss Client Advisor| https://www.rebeccajaneellis.com/
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
