Stock Market Crash: What Finance Influencers Say to Do As Tariffs Hit

Finance influencers are swooping to help ease the panic after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs this week and the stock market plunged.

Personal finance is a popular category on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Hundreds of creators share tips on how to save money, invest, build credit, and balance a budget.

We asked top women finance influencers to share their No. 1 piece of advice for navigating this moment. Their responses ranged from, “don’t panic” to budgeting tips like negotiating bills and creating a cash buffer.

“True financial resilience comes from having (and sticking to) a clear strategy — whether that means tightening your budget, prioritizing building your emergency fund, or strategically acquiring undervalued assets when opportunities arise,” Tolani Eweje, who writes the Substack newsletter The Creator Success Club, told Business Insider.

Here’s what other creators said:

‘Stay the course’

Tori Dunlap, the creator of Her First $100K with 2.2 million followers on Instagram, encouraged people to avoid “panic-selling.”

“My No. 1 financial tip right now is to stay the course,” she said. “The stock market is like a roller coaster — there will always be ups and downs, but the people who build real wealth are the ones who stay strapped in for the long haul.”

Bola Sokunbi, the creator of Clever Girl Finance with 356,000 followers on Instagram, also said, “Don’t panic.” She said to focus on long-term financial goals.

Mallory Rowan, a finance influencer with 108,000 followers and host of the YouTube show “The Inbetweeners” said, “Reflect on what it is you need to feel good about your money, regardless of the global climate, and what that tangibly looks like.”

Rowan said that check-in can look like regular money chats with your partner or making changes to feel like you have forward movement in your investments.

‘No level of income is above budgeting’

Mal Baska, who has 31,000 followers on Instagram for her Money Talk Mal account, said to get your budget in order.

“No level of income is above budgeting to some degree,” Baska said. “Having a pulse and a plan for your incoming cash flow is key to financial security all the time — but especially during times of uncertainty.”

Nadia Vanderhall, a financial planner with 8,000 followers on LinkedIn, said to look at your last month of spending and see what expenses have gone up, like groceries or gas. Use that to shape your budget for the next month.

Baska also said now is the time to negotiate your salary and costs, such as auto insurance, cellphone, and medical bills.

“Lock in pricing before companies really get hit,” she said. “This can help free up cash flow in the budget.”

‘Prioritize creating a cash buffer’

This is also the time to bulk up your emergency fund, a few of the influencers said.

“The No. 1 piece of advice I’m giving people is really to prioritize creating a cash buffer,” Sokunbi said. “If you have an income coming in right now, this is the time to be saving money.”

Baska recommended opening a high-yield savings account and budgeting to grow that safety net if you haven’t already.

‘Turn today’s dip into long-term gains’

The silver lining to a market downturn is the opportunity to buy quality stocks and index funds at a discount, said Kelly Anne Smith, the creator of Freedom In A Budget, which has 53,000 subscribers on YouTube.

“The market has a history of recovering over time, and that rebound could turn today’s dip into long-term gains for your future,” Smith said.

Sokunbi also said this could be a good time to invest — if you don’t need the money within the next five years and already have your cash buffer in place.

“If retirement is not anywhere around the corner, this is the stock market on sale, and we love a great sale,” Sokunbi said. “So take advantage of it, keeping in mind that you want to have a cash buffer in place so that if you do need the money, you don’t need to cash out your investments.”

Travel where the exchange rate is strong

Rising prices and a weak dollar don’t have to ruin your travel plans.

“Go somewhere where the exchange rate is strong and in favor of your home currency,” Vivian Tu, the creator of Your Rich BFF, wrote Friday on Instagram, where she has 3.4 million Instagram followers. She was unable to speak with BI by press time.

Tu said some “great places to consider” for US-based travelers include Mexico, Poland, Vietnam, South Africa, Japan, Brazil, Portugal, and Ireland.

Correction: April 5, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated Mal Baska’s follower count. She has 31,000 followers on Instagram.