Retired clients can get anxious watching Iran war headlines. Here's how advisors try and calm them

The Iran war has been rattling the markets for almost three weeks now. For their part, financial advisors have been spending a lot of those days calming anxious clients about their retirement plans.

Frankly, it’s not easy helping clients anchor decisions to long-term goals rather than unnerving headlines. Sometimes, it can get tense, according to Michael Duffy, VP and financial advisor at Bogart Wealth.

“The tension between staying the course and reacting to news is where most portfolios succeed or fail. Investment discipline doesn’t mean completely ignoring change, it means applying and following a structured plan that allows for thoughtful adjustments without emotional reactions,” Duffy said.

In times of global stress, reassurance begins with listening, Duffy says. In his experience, clients need to feel heard before they are ready to absorb forecasts. Advisors who lead with empathy and follow with education can replace fear with clarity by offering historical context, clear explanations, and consistent communication.

“Strong relationships lead to stronger financial plans. Trust fosters engagement, supports better decision-making, and helps clients remain committed to long-term strategies, especially during periods of heightened uncertainty,” Duffy said.

Elsewhere, Patrick Shope, certified wealth strategist and financial advisor for Sigma Planning Corporation, part of the Axtella network, says one thing that he has learned in over 20 years of working with retirees and near-retirees is that the best retirement plans are built to withstand bad headlines.

“What we’re seeing right now with the conflict in Iran, oil prices spiking, and the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, is exactly the kind of shock that tests whether a plan was built on solid ground or just good intentions. I tell my clients that every dollar in their portfolio should have a specific job,” Shope said.

Shope employs a “bucket strategy” with his clients, which splits funds into short, medium and long-term time frames.

“This structure is what lets a client watch the news about Iran and oil prices without feeling like their retirement is on fire. Their next two years’ income isn’t in the stock market. Their next 6 to 8 years of income are not dependent on what happens this month. It’s intentional. It’s discipline,” Shope said.

Finally, Brett Bartman, managing director and financial advisor at RBC Wealth Management-US, believes advisors can help clients stay disciplined by framing global conflicts as short-term "noise" rather than events that will shift long-term retirement fundamentals.

“Remember that at any point in time, there are constant geopolitical issues occurring. If you have a well-structured plan, advisors can implement small adjustments while making sure the core strategy remains steady. This approach validates the client's concerns while still keeping permanent financial goals intact,” Bartman said.

Advisors help clients retiring during a conflict by focusing on short-term liquidity to avoid selling assets while the market is down, says Bartman about his own bucket strategy. By establishing a liquid account for the first year or two of expenses, retirees can withstand the temporary impacts of global events and give their long-term investments time to recover.

“This liquid account along with conservative, income producing securities can be relied upon should a client be retiring during tumultuous times,” Bartman said.