I’ve met with many clients over the years who own individual stocks – some have been huge winners and others not so much. Sometimes it makes up a meaningful portion of their net worth, other times it’s a tiny fraction. I can understand the allure of stock picking.

Check out the return of $10,000 over the past 20 years (2005-2024) in the following stocks. Nvidia turns $10k into $7.5mm, Netflix into $5mm, and Apple into $2.5mm. The stock market index (S&P 500), just $71,000…

Despite the strong recovery of stocks over the last few weeks, many investors are rightfully concerned that we may be heading into a recession. While there has been progress with trade negotiations, there are still some tariffs already in effect and possibly more on the way. This has let to continued uncertainty and concern of a economic slowdown. I’ve fielded numerous questions regarding when I think the end of the cycle may be. The truth is I don’t know. And even if I did know, there’s not a whole lot an investor can do with that information. If I gave you a crystal ball and you could know the exact day that a recession would begin and end, do you think you could beat the market?

The answer, surprisingly, is “no.” From 1934-2024, the average return of the S&P 500 was 11.5%. If you sold at the start of a recession and bought at the end, you earned 10.4%…

Markets are on edge again, this time reacting to a fresh round of tariff headlines and fears of a broader global trade war. Stocks have stumbled into correction territory, with the S&P 500 now down more than 15% from recent highs. For many investors, the question is the same as always: Is this the start of something bigger—or a setup for a rebound?

While every market selloff comes with its own set of headlines and fears, history gives us a clear lens to view what often comes next.

Corrections of this size are unsettling. They create the sense that something is broken. But the data tells a consistent story: sharp declines often lead to strong forward returns. Not immediately, but in time.

The past week has been one of the most volatile on record. The stock market has been in freefall following the sweeping tariff announcement last Wednesday. Every diversified investor, whether aggressive or conservative, that is exposed to some stock allocation is down. It’s during moments like these that you need diversification to work. And it is.

However, the past few years have been historically bad for bond investors, with rising interest rates resulting in a negative total return over five years…

Recent concerns about a new era of stagflation in the U.S. have emerged due to escalating tariff wars. If the tariff war expands and companies are left paying higher prices for parts, it could create an environment where growth slows as consumers are less willing to buy at higher prices, while inflation remains as input costs all continue to rise.

While it’s too early to sound the alarm, looking back at the painful period of stagflation from 1973 to 1982 provides critical insights about how investors can protect themselves if it gets worse. ..