The first three months of 2025 have been marked by higher-than-expected market volatility, with investors navigating a surge in uncertainty. As of March 17, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) – often called Wall Street’s “fear index” – hovered around 22, after hitting a 2025 peak of 27.9 a week earlier. Despite the uncertainty, there’s no need to panic-sell. Market timing…
In times of uncertainty and market volatility, many investors seek the dependability of owning high-dividend stocks. Regular dividends help temper the ups and downs of the market and can act as a hedge against persistent inflation. Companies that pay consistent dividends are often viewed as more stable and financially sound than companies that don’t distribute income regularly. In the final…
Residential real estate is particularly attractive to investors during periods of stock market volatility. Real estate classes like multifamily and single-family rental property provide stable cash flow because quality housing is always in demand. Housing is not a luxury, it’s a basic human need. While other sectors like technology and consumer discretionary can see large revenue swings during turbulent times,…
One of President Donald Trump’s first actions in his second term was to put controversial Tesla Inc. (ticker: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE has been tasked with implementing aggressive federal spending cuts across several government agencies. The goal of DOGE is to streamline government operations and save taxpayer dollars, but large…
When it comes to up-and-coming stocks, it’s easy to get wide-eyed over impressive short-term performances. After all, everyone dreams of getting a piece of the next disruptor like Apple Inc. (ticker: AAPL) or Tesla Inc. (TSLA) right on the ground floor. The following seven picks are up-and-coming stocks to watch because of several factors. First, they all are valued under $15…
There are many different tax-advantaged retirement accounts, but the alphabet and number soup can be confusing. Some of those account structures are available for workers in certain situations. For example, a private-sector worker generally has different qualified account options than a state government worker. Other types of accounts are available to self-employed workers, and some can be used in combination. Here’s…
Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are a convenient and cost-effective way for investors to own a diversified, professionally managed portfolio of securities. The basics of ETF investing are easy to understand, and they trade on all major exchanges just like shares of common stock do. Most dividend-paying ETFs distribute dividends quarterly, but not all of them. Many funds have elected to…
In 2023 and 2024, investors could’ve gotten along quite nicely if they’d just overweighted the tech sector. That hasn’t been the case in the early innings of 2025, with information technology clocking in as the single worst-performing of the S&P 500’s 11 sectors. In short, there is widespread uncertainty about the short- and mid-term direction of stocks, and no consensus on…
Real estate investments can be an excellent way to earn returns, generate cash flow, hedge against inflation, and diversify an investment portfolio. However, buying physical properties can be costly, difficult and risky for an individual. Instead, investors can buy shares of diversified real estate investment trusts, or REITs. REITs are public companies that own large portfolios of real estate and…
Tesla Inc. (ticker: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, warming to his burgeoning political brand, is starting a new role in the Trump administration as the director of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the president’s budget-cutting task force. That high-visibility post will mean even more eyes will be locked on Musk-related stocks in 2025. Whether conflicts or issues with Musk and…