retail investors, often dismissed as “dumb money,” turned out to be the ones capitalizing on the recent market rebound. It's a clear reminder that in volatile times, discipline and long-term conviction can outperform institutional constraints like short-term benchmarks and career risk.

While it's impressive that retail investors earned nearly 12% during this window, it's also important to remain grounded. As Silverman and Levitt pointed out, challenges still lie ahead, and strong returns often come wrapped in volatility.

Ultimately, this reinforces a timeless investing lesson: staying the course with a clear strategy — especially during fear-driven selloffs — often rewards those with patience