Category Investing

In times of economic uncertainty and market swings, protecting your retirement savings becomes more important than ever. According to retirement expert Kourtney Gibson from TIAA, the best time to prepare is before a downturn happens—not during one. Gibson recommends making sure your investments are well-diversified, meaning your money should be spread across different types of assets (like stocks, bonds, and real estate) and even within those groups. This helps reduce the risk of losing too much if one area of the market drops. She also highlights the importance of building steady income sources for retirement, so your financial future stays secure even when the economy is shaky.

Ramp-and-dump scams are a new kind of investment fraud that have become more common during recent economic uncertainty. These scams are similar to traditional "pump-and-dump" schemes, but with a twist. Instead of loudly hyping up a stock on social media, scammers quietly use bots and fake accounts to make a stock’s price slowly go up, making it look like a smart and trustworthy investment. Once enough regular investors buy in, the scammers sell their shares for a profit and disappear, causing the stock’s value to crash and leaving others with major losses. The FBI says reports of these scams have jumped by 300% in just one year, and they are now taking serious action to stop the fraud and catch the criminals involved.

As inflation stays high and markets remain unpredictable, it's more important than ever to make smart choices with your money. Experts suggest that retirees and workers alike should build a well-balanced investment portfolio that includes a mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets like real estate investment trusts (REITs) and Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS). These can help protect your savings from inflation and keep income steady. New research from Goldman Sachs shows that many people are worried about running out of money in retirement. To avoid this, financial planners recommend using strategies like personalized retirement plans and private market investments, which may offer more growth and stability over time. Making thoughtful, diversified money moves can help people feel more secure in uncertain economic times.

As the economy shifts and interest rates fall, many people are wondering where to keep their money, especially for short-term goals. While bonds are expected to recover, financial experts still recommend using cash-based options like money market accounts and Treasury bills. These types of investments are low-risk and currently pay interest that beats inflation. Plus, since the difference in returns between short-term and long-term bonds is very small right now, there’s not much reward for locking your money up for longer periods. In today’s uncertain market—with international tensions and changing Federal Reserve policies—keeping some of your money in cash can be a smart way to stay flexible and protect your savings.

In late 2025, hopes for more interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve started to fade as the U.S. economy showed stronger-than-expected growth. New data revealed that jobless claims had dropped and the economy grew by 3.8% in the second quarter, signaling that the country was doing better than many experts had predicted. For most of the year, people believed the Fed would lower interest rates to help businesses and consumers borrow more easily. However, with the job market staying strong and the economy growing, the Fed may decide not to cut rates further. This shift in expectations led to higher Treasury yields and affected rate-sensitive sectors, especially technology stocks.

Millennials are buying homes in expensive cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and San Jose, even though experts are warning that now might not be the best time to take on such a big financial risk. These areas have extremely high home prices, with down payments often over $190,000. While millennials are leading in mortgage applications, many older homeowners—mostly baby boomers—are staying in their homes because they have low mortgage rates they don’t want to give up. This makes it harder for first-time buyers to find homes, driving up competition and prices. Even though buying a home can build long-term wealth, millennials entering the market today may face financial pressure due to high interest rates, inflation, and low housing supply.