Pop quiz! For a bear market to begin, do stock prices have to fall by 10%, 15%, or 20% from a recent high? Do you know the answer off the top of your head? If you said 20%, you’re right!1 Drops of 10% to 19.9% are market corrections.1 On the other hand, a new bull […]

No matter the short-term noise, stick to your financial plan and stay calm The average weight of a black bear in the western U.S. ranges from 100 to 300 pounds, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. But inCalifornia, a much larger black bear – think 500 pounds – is ransacking homes and […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision ignited the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II. The war is already exacting a terrible human toll.

What's the hardest lesson you've ever had to learn about money? What’s the most powerful one? For many folks, these lessons come from hard-earned experience.1 They aren’t taught in a classroom. Instead, many folks go to the school of hard knocks. It’s the learn-as-you-go way to understanding personal finance.1 And those lessons we pick up can shape […]

As we consider the tensions driving recent market movements, a Korean folk saying seems apt: “When whales fight, the shrimp’s back is broken.” The idea is that bystanders get hurt when big folks duke it out. What are the tensions? Who are the bystanders? Let’s discuss. A deeply feared invasion of Ukraine has happened. A […]

Volatility was high last week as investors guessed and second-guessed how markets would react if Russia invaded Ukraine and sanctions were imposed on Russia.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made negotiating? What did you lose? What did you learn? We’ve all lost a negotiation at one point or another. That’s because negotiating isn’t natural for most of us. It requires several complex skills — listening actively, asking good questions, and knowing when to walk away.1 Those skills can take […]

To say that economists did not have great expectations for the January employment report might be understating their position. It was widely believed that the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant would translate into a dismal jobs report.1 It didn’t.

Markets cratered this week, heading into correction territory, and then bounced right back.1 And then continued bucking and kicking the next day. Weird, right? Not really. These things happen pretty regularly when investors get jittery. Let’s talk about what’s going on. (Scroll to the end if you just want my soothing takeaways.) What led to […]

What did markets do in 2021? What can we expect in the months ahead? It's interesting, for sure. We broke down what you need to know about markets and the economy into a five-minute read. Click here to see it! Want to learn more about what savvy investors should take away? Click here to check it […]