Doug English Provides ACT Advisors’ April 2025 Update
As we step into the second quarter of 2025, market watchers and investors alike continue to navigate a challenging financial landscape. Doug English delivers a timely update on where the markets stand, what signals to watch for, and how ACT’s strategic systems are actively working to help protect client portfolios during these uncertain times.
Mild Decline, Lingering Volatility
March saw a continuation of the market downturn that’s characterized much of early 2025. While not severe, the decline was notable for its persistent volatility, driven by uncertainty around inflation, shifting economic policy, and increased talk of a potential recession. The S&P 500 fell approximately 6% during March, a notable dip, though the year-to-date decline remains relatively mild at around 4.5%.
Doug offers this insight into the current market mood:
“There’s some good underneath the hood, if you will… maybe once we get past all of this unknown, we’ll get back to the economic fundamentals, which continue to look reasonably good.”
Despite the turbulence, ACT Advisors remains confident that economic fundamentals still offer reasons for optimism once the fog of uncertainty begins to clear.
Adaptive Systems to Help Guard and Grow
What truly sets ACT Advisors apart during periods like these is the way our investment systems adapt to market conditions. Doug explains that ACT’s stock and bond rotation strategies are behaving as designed—shifting into protective positions when conditions warrant caution.
On the equity side, ACT’s stock rotation strategy has retreated to a cash-like position, using the ETF BIL—a short-term Treasury-based fund that currently yields approximately 4.5%. This move helps preserve capital and provides liquidity in a challenging equity environment.
Meanwhile, the bond rotation strategy has made a slight shift. Previously holding a mix of two bond positions and one cash-like holding, it’s now rotating that cash portion into longer-term U.S. Treasury positions. This reflects a strategic tilt toward assets that could benefit if the economic slowdown continues to unfold.
A System Designed for Resilience
The core goal of ACT Advisors’ rotation systems is not just to capture market upside, but to proactively guard client portfolios when markets are not providing appropriate compensation for risk. Doug emphasizes that these systems are doing exactly what they’re meant to:
“They retreat from markets that are not paying you and look to protect some of your assets in case you need cash.”
Importantly, this positioning helps ensure that if clients need to draw funds, they can do so without having to sell investments at a loss—preserving both peace of mind and long-term strategy.
Looking Ahead
Although March brought a meaningful pullback in the S&P, Doug notes that given the level of uncertainty in the market, the decline could have been even steeper. That suggests there is still resilience in key parts of the economy and markets—a potential bright spot once the current storm passes.
In the meantime, ACT Advisors is actively making necessary trades across client retirement and taxable accounts. These automated, evidence-based strategies are a key component of ACT’s approach: adapting as markets shift, with an eye toward both protection and opportunity.
If you have any questions or just need some peace of mind, don’t hesitate to reach out. The ACT Advisors team is always ready to discuss your portfolio, provide insights, and guide you through uncertain times with confidence.
Doug English is the founder of ACT Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary firm with offices in Asheville, NC, and Charleston, SC, serving clients nationwide. Guided by Doug’s deep expertise and proactive approach, ACT Advisors helps clients make informed financial decisions, prioritize wealth protection, and confidently navigate market complexities. As dedicated advisors and advocates, the ACT Advisors team brings an unwavering commitment to transparency, personalized planning, and empowering clients at every stage of their financial journey.