On 27 February 2026, the USA–Israel front attacked military, nuclear, and missile infrastructure in Iran. This triggered a rapidly escalating military conflict involving the United States and Israel striking targets in Iran, while Iran (along with aligned groups) retaliated across the region.

The conflict has increased geopolitical tensions, caused the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz (one of the most important global energy chokepoints), raised fears of soaring oil prices, and fueled significant uncertainty in the stock market.

When uncertainty arises, one question starts to obsess our minds: Where should I invest?

What kind of investor are you?

Answering that question is not as simple as a walk in the park. You should always take into account what kind of investor you are. Let me give you an example. If you are a trader with plenty of time to monitor and manage your investments, you can take advantage of periods of high volatility: buy low, sell high, and potentially make significant profits.

But if you are not that kind of investor, what should you do? In that case, there are two basic principles you should consider:

1. Patience
2. Long-term value assets

Patience

When you are not a trader, the first thing you should keep in mind is: be patient. When the market is down, selling your stocks could be a mistake. Be patient and trust your investments, as long as they are good ones.

This is where the second principle comes in: invest in long-term value assets.

Long-term value assets

Long-term assets are those kinds of assets that generate and increase their value over long periods of time. It doesn’t matter whether you are a country, a company, or an individual. There are some universal assets that tend to preserve their value in the long run. I am talking about: 1. Human capital; 2. Natural capital

1. Human capital

If there is something that is solid as a rock and hardly impacted by external events, it is human capital. Whether you are a country, a company, or an individual, investing in this asset always pays off in the long run. When good times return, your human capital—your know-how and technological progress—will help you thrive and gain a competitive advantage in the market. Investing in this asset, even during difficult times, always pays off over the long term.

2. Natural capital

Investing in natural capital and achieving independence in natural resources (such as water, energy, and food) is extremely important for companies, governments, and citizens alike. Natural capital satisfies our basic needs and tends to generate value in the long term, especially if you invest in the long-term sustainability of these assets.

Conclusion

Of course, these two long-term assets tend to pay off over time. However, that does not mean there are no other options. Real estate has always been considered a good investment, although it also carries some risks in the long run. Gold is another asset you can invest in, and it has historically proven to increase its value over time.

However, there is no investment without risk. Therefore, in times of uncertainty, the first principle is “be patient” and avoid selling at the wrong time. If your goal is to preserve and increase the value of your capital over the long run, rather than engage in short-term speculation, you should focus on assets that are most likely to preserve their value and that are less affected by external events occurring in other parts of the world.

If you like this topic and would like to read more articles about it, please share your feedback.

Soon we will release a course on Long-Term Economy. In the meantime, you can find the following courses on the Udemy platform:

https://www.udemy.com/user/ruggiero-dario/