Politics & Money

Elections and Markets

What do presidential elections mean for your portfolio? Should you change your investing strategy based on who wins? Elections bring a lot of noise, and I wanted to dispel some market myths around this election.

Myth #1: Elections usually bring big market swings.

You would think elections cause major market shifts (given all the politicking and intense emotions). However, history shows that elections historically don't influence market performance as much as the economy does.

Hard or Soft Landing? Watch the Sahm Rule

Is a zombie recession coming? By that, I mean that renewed fears of a "hard landing" recession have emerged from the grave and are walking among us. Many analysts were convinced that the U.S. economy could achieve a coveted “soft landing,” but they might be overly optimistic.

What makes some economists worry about a recession?

Markets & Election Years

What’s your biggest worry about the next presidential election? How do you think it’ll play out in your financial life? 

Believe it or not, there’s a roughly 50-50 chance you’re worried about the next election tanking your portfolio. (1) You may also be concerned about a recession, rising interest rates, or taxes going up. (2) 

No matter what has you feeling unsettled, it can all boil down to one question: Should we make money moves now, based on our election anxiety? 

Tragedy in Israel

I'm writing to offer some thoughts on the horrific situation unfolding in Israel.

The devastating terrorist attacks have already cost thousands of lives and may profoundly affect the region.

While the violence might seem far away, behind every headline are real people, families, and communities that will never be the same.

Let's take a moment to grieve for the folks who are suffering and dying and hope for a solution that will save lives.

How could an Israel-Hamas war affect the economy and markets?