There is a quiet risk building in portfolios right now, and it is not inflation, interest rates, or geopolitical shocks.

It is hesitation.

Across boardrooms, WhatsApp chats, and Sunday dinner tables, you will hear the same thing: “I’m waiting to see what happens.” Whether it is a Federal Reserve decision, a United States election twist, local elections, or signs of a global slowdown, investors everywhere are stuck in a loop of what-ifs, building their strategy around safety and delay.

Yet, in trying so hard to avoid risk, many are missing the truth: Playing it safe might be the riskiest move of all.

In the past two years, markets have served up opportunities that only appear once in a cycle 5 per cent-plus yields on investment-grade bonds, deep discounts on high-quality securities, and rare chances to lock in real income in a rising-cost world. These are not speculative bets. These are fundamentally sound, globally aligned strategies designed to protect and grow capital in any environment.

And yet billions remain on the sidelines. Cash is piling up in low-yield accounts. Investors are clinging to outdated instruments that offer “peace of mind” but very little else. The fear of getting it wrong has quietly overridden the reward of getting it right.

Let us call it what it is: a false sense of security.

Yes, the headlines are noisy, but the markets are whispering to those paying attention. Inflation is softening. Central banks are nearing their peak. Capital is repositioning, not fleeing, and smart money is already moving quietly and strategically, while some investors are still frozen.

Locally, this moment is even more critical. Many investors are holding on to Jamaican-dollar liquidity at a time when regional inflation and foreign exchange uncertainty are silently eroding its value. Meanwhile, United States dollar-denominated assets with strong credit quality and international exposure are offering income, currency stability, and long-term upside, all while protecting against domestic shocks.

It is not just about currency, it is about diversification. Concentrating wealth in a single market, currency, or asset class limits flexibility and increases vulnerability. A well-diversified portfolio across geographies, currencies, sectors, and maturities does not just preserve capital, it positions it to perform in a range of economic scenarios. That is how investors stay resilient, even when conditions change unexpectedly.

Still, the hesitation persists. Wrapped in caution but rooted in fear.

Here is what experienced investors understand: The best opportunities never show up with perfect timing. They emerge in the fog. When narratives are unclear. When headlines are split. When everyone else is waiting for a sign.

But by the time the sign appears, by the time the picture is crystal clear, the opportunity has already passed. The market does not reward delay, it rewards preparation, clarity, and action.

So do not just protect your capital, position it. For income. For stability. For growth. Because, in this market, the greatest risk is not volatility, it is doing nothing at all.

Tenagne Thompson is manager, personal financial planning at Sterling Asset Management. Sterling provides financial advice and instruments in US dollars and other hard currencies to the corporate, individual and institutional investor. Visit our website at www.sterling.com.jm

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