Finsyn Logo White

The Blog

Weekly insights on the markets, economy, and financial planning

This might sound a little strange coming from someone who invests other people's money in the stock market, but it's true - Most Stocks Are Bad Investments.

Subscribe to Our Blog

Sign up to receive weekly articles on the markets, economy, and financial planning.

*Your email will be kept completely private.

Recent Articles

With activity in many industries sharply curtailed in an effort to reduce the chances of spreading the coronavirus, some economists say a recession is inevitable, if one hasn’t already begun. From a markets perspective, we have already experienced a drop in stocks, as prices have likely incorporated the growing chance of recession.
A monster week for stocks! The market rallied during the past week as investor sentiment continued improving while the Federal Reserve announced more aggressive action. The S&P 500 gained 12.1% while the Russell 2000 (+18.5%) outperformed.
Last week's jobs report confirmed what investors and economists already knew: work stoppages around the country due to the coronavirus have led to layoffs, furloughed workers, and a rising unemployment rate.
The stock market had its good days this week and its bad days. Unfortunately, the losses on the bad days outweighed the gains on the good days, so it was a losing week overall for the major indices.
The unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic has prioritized keeping people apart to slow the spread of the virus. While measures such as business closures and travel restrictions are effective at fighting a pandemic, they also have a dramatic impact on the economy.
On Friday, March 27th, the President signed into law a $2.2 trillion-dollar stimulus plan known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. It is the largest stimulus package of its kind and is intended to help combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus.
As confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to accelerate in the U.S. and around the world, work stoppages have also increased. The resulting strain on the economy from layoffs, furloughed workers, reduced productivity, and consumer spending is beginning to appear in the data.
Stocks rebounded this week, with the S&P 500 surging 10.3%, as investors stepped in to buy discounted shares of companies after Congress approved the $2 trillion stimulus package for households and businesses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 12.8%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 9.1%, and the Russell 2000 rose 11.6%.
As I write this article the market closed with another historic day. And it was a good one - the biggest one-day percentage gain (+11.37%) for the Dow Jones Industrial Average in almost 90 years, and its largest-ever move in point terms. But the financial carnage done by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last month is undeniable.
Folks, these are trying times. We are being tested on many levels, both emotionally and financially. I thought about just posting my typical Weekly Market Recap, but y'all have probably had enough bad news and anxiety to last a lifetime already this week.
Check out this video (CLICK HERE) from one of our investment partners, Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). It helps to put recent market volatility into perspective. It's a little long, but worth the time. We hope you find it helpful during these trying times.
After 11 years, a perfect storm around the new coronavirus has pushed markets into bear territory. The World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, markets were disappointed by government policy responses, and containment measures increased as cases continue to rise globally.
Believe it or not, after all the volatility this week, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones actually gained ground, adding 0.6% and 1.8% respectively. The week's positive change masks the fact that the S&P 500 bounced around a 235-point range since last Friday.
What's the old saying in Texas? "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute." That's what watching this market is like. We're experiencing record ups and downs on a daily basis. But, as Mike Booker stated yesterday, "this storm will pass."
The coronavirus remains the focus, as the market took another gut punch today (03/03/2020) right after yesterday's historic gain. To probably no one's surprise, the roller coaster continues. Investors are reacting to headlines on the spread of the coronavirus around the globe, now officially known as COVID-19, as well as recent mixed economic data. After a relatively calm year for the markets in 2019, it's important to maintain perspective and stay disciplined.

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below for instant access