In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the "7% annual return" trope to reveal why the math of the market rarely feels like a smooth ride in your actual bank account. Through the story of a fictional investor caught in a sequence of returns tailspin, we illustrate how volatility and timing can quietly sabotage even the most disciplined savings plan. You’ll walk away understanding why the "average" is often a mathematical myth and how to build a portfolio that survives the reality of the sequence.