How to steady ourselves.
EDITION 18: INVEST ON PURPOSE
Let’s talk about the news, shall we? Before you roll your eyes and move past this newsletter, hang in there with me. I’d like to offer you an alternative that can hopefully give you a glimmer of hope.
Here’s the tough part (which I know I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know here): Markets are swinging. Tariffs are maybe happening. Or maybe not. Every headline is a new plot twist. And in all that chaos, what we’re really craving isn’t “the news”. We’re searching for stability.
Stability gives us the illusion of control. And we love that feeling—even when deep down, we know control is just that: a feeling. But feelings are powerful, and they can affect how we behave.
For me, when things start to feel unstable, I instinctively look for alternatives.
This might sound like a silly analogy, but when I lived in New York, I always made sure to live near multiple subway lines or bus routes. This diversity allowed me to feel like I had some control over my commute, even if I couldn’t actually control the MTA schedules. Knowing I had options gave me peace of mind and some stability in terms of my timing. If the 7 train wasn’t running, I could hop on the F, or grab the Q60 bus.
That’s the power of diversification.
It’s not about certainty—it’s about resiliency.
Beyond stocks and bonds.
In investing, we frequently are guided to diversify. But that word is loaded. People often think that just means splitting between stocks and bonds. Maybe a few funds. But that’s all still one system: the public markets.
And when that system gets rocked, like it's doing now, all those assets tend to wobble together. We don’t feel like we have enough stability. We put all our eggs in one basket (public markets) and with all our resources and energy put there, if that fails, we risk losing everything.
So where else can we look? Alternatives.
Oooof, ok “alternatives” is pretty vague term. That’s like waving a hand and just saying “there’s some good stuff generally in that direction.” So let me drill down into one alternative asset class that I believe is particularly poised to help calm the tumultuous storm of the current state of the public markets.
Private credit.
Quick reminder about private credit: investors make private loans to businesses. In this asset class, your investment isn’t riding the mood swings of the stock market, but instead supporting real businesses that generate real cash flow and repay loans monthly.
Here are a few fast facts:
Private credit delivered annualized returns of ~8-10% compared to ~6-7% for public bond markets (e.g., Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index) over the past decade.
Direct lending, a subset of private credit, returned an annual average of ~8.5% over the past decade, with less drawdown risk during public market selloffs.
Private credit consistently shows greater resilience during market stress thanks to its structure, relationships, and customization.
Private credit isn’t whiplashed by headlines.
It’s based on fundamentals, like whether the child care center you funded is still open and generating revenue. Not whether tech stocks are “down” this quarter.
It’s not just about being different. It’s about being resilient.
From theory to reality.
BeeCene is being built to make that easier.
We pool monthly investments and deploy them as loans to women-owned businesses with predictable repayment structures.
In fact, I'm excited to share some big news: we just approved the first business for our BeeCene pilot program and will be sending funds her way shortly! This isn't just talk anymore—it's happening right now.
And this business is exactly the kind that makes sense in uncertain times. Her company provides a safety service for drivers that people need regardless of what the economy is doing. When something is essential rather than optional, customers keep paying for it even when budgets get tight.
This is what I mean by investing in something real. While the stock market swings up and down with every headline, businesses like this one keep serving their customers, generating revenue, and now, providing returns to our investors.
Building resilience in uncertain times.
If private credit isn’t for you right now, you still should consider private market investing in some capacity—private equity funds, angel investing, real estate investments.
Because when the headlines start to blur, you don’t need more noise. You need a strategy that’s built on something real. Something that complements and stabilizes the chaos.
Ready to steady your investment strategy using BeeCene? Join our waiting list at https://form.typeform.com/to/G1JHPS6X to be among the first to know when BeeCene officially launches.
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The information provided is current as of the date of this writing and for informational purposes only. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or recommendations, does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell securities, and should not be considered specific legal, investment or tax advice.
Investing entails risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not predictive of future results.
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