As concerns of economic slowdown gather, Bob Landaas and Kyle Tetting tell investors how to balance their life’s savings to weather the storm—whenever it comes. Bob and Kyle discussed the difficulty of forecasting recessions in a MONEY TALK VIDEO. […]

A rare inversion of the yield curve—when long-term yields get lower than short-term—occurred on March 22. The phenomenon ended within a week but not without reminders that inverted yield curves frequently precede economic recessions. More important than their power to predict imminent downturns, though, is the message that inverted yield curves send to investors. […]

By Bob Landaas
Analysts have known for years that longer term, interest rates and corporate earnings drive stock prices. So, it was welcome news in January that the Federal Reserve is now on hold with raising short-term interest rates. Since December 2015, the Federal Reserve has sent short-term interest rates higher, unsettling markets. While it is premature to say that the Fed is done raising rates, it now appears that the central bank is mostly done, which should support stock prices. […]

By Joel Dresang
A former co-worker informed me of a gathering at a bar for our old boss, who’s taking a company buyout. That got me thinking about retirement gifts.
As more of my cohort reach retirement age, I wonder how to send them off. How will our retirements be different from those of our parents or older siblings? […]

By Bob Landaas
As I get older, it becomes clearer to me that there are some problems that you face that can be solved while there are others where there is no easy fix. Two of the issues that are weighing on financial markets currently are solvable and give investors hope after the disappointments of last year. […]

By Joel Dresang
As investors, we’re always hearing about buying low and selling high, not putting all our eggs in one basket, making a plan and sticking to it. Apparently, there’s something to be said too for the warning, “Don’t look down,” which individuals are advised when they find themselves atop a lofty perch and an unfamiliar perspective could panic them into a costly misstep. […]

By Kyle Tetting
The year 2018 marked the worst in a decade for broad measures of U.S. stocks. After some late January weakness, stocks had been trending higher for most of the year before succumbing to uncertainty in the fourth quarter. Uncertainty is always part of investing in stock markets – and, long-term, creates opportunity – but the fourth quarter of 2018 was unnerving in its reminder of how quickly trends can turn. […]

By Joel Dresang
I’m waiting my turn to purchase Forever stamps. First-Class postage for a 1-ounce letter rises to 55 cents per stamp beginning Jan. 27, a price increase of a nickel apiece or 10%. Then I consider the value of the stamps and how value often is an overlooked part of investing. […]

Gyrations in the stock market can play havoc with investors’ emotions and lead to impulsive moves. In a MONEY TALK VIDEO, Dave Sandstrom explains why investors should not let short-term market volatility disrupt important retirement decisions but instead rely on balanced investment portfolios and prudent withdrawal plans. […]

Even properly diversified investment assets move in unison sometimes. Investors saw that in October when both stocks and bonds lost value. As Paige Radke explains in a MONEY TALK VIDEO, occasional breakdowns in correlation occur, but they tend to be only temporary, suggesting correlation remains a sound strategy for long-term investors. […]

After a six-month lull, volatility riled the stock market again in October. Prices on the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose or fell more than 1% in 10 of the month’s 22 trading days. While heightened activity can be disconcerting, it’s par for the course from time to time and reminds investors to balance their portfolios to risk levels they can tolerate. Kyle Tetting explains in a MONEY TALK VIDEO. […]

By Kyle Tetting
Stock market volatility abruptly returned in October after a stretch of 74 trading days without as much as a 1% change in the S&P 500. The CBOE Volatility Index – known as the fear gauge – doubled during the month, suggesting traders believe the wider swings may persist. Big fluctuations and a string of losses can be disconcerting, but it’s important to remember that volatility is the norm – especially this late in an economic expansion that has lasted more than nine years. […]