Top Story
Who’s paying to repair Southern states after Hurricane Helene?
This recent natural disaster has highlighted a major gap in the insurance market.
US stocks finished lower on Monday
• Rising yields in the bond market, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield topping 4% for the first time since August, a wait-and-see attitude about the impending earnings seasons, and geopolitical worries weighed on market sentiment.
Here’s what to be on the lookout for today
• The NFIB optimism index
• The U.S. trade deficit
Investing 101: How to get started
If you want to start investing but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone.
First things first: Investing isn’t only for the super rich. You can start your investing journey at any point in your life.
In fact, if you’re saving for retirement through an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, you might already be investing! These plans often allow you to choose from pre-selected investment portfolios.
Dipping your toes into the financial waters
Learn the basics. Knowing some of the options and lingo of the investing world can help you acclimate yourself. For example, you may explore investing through mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or you may choose to buy stocks outright.
Learn more on our Investing 101 hub and make the choices that are right for your finances and goals
Set goals. Your investment strategy should align with your goals. Some investments are better suited for long-term savings goals, while other options could help you save for nearer term needs like a downpayment on a house.
Don’t look too often. If you’re saving for the long-term, time is your friend. Try to avoid making knee-jerk decisions when the market is turbulent.
Today’s top stories
The wage gap for Hispanic women has grown again. Here’s why it mattersNegative ramifications are surfacing around the wage gap between Latinas and their white, male counterparts.
Read more >> Do you know your 401(k) balance?Don’t worry, this isn’t a quiz. But knowing your balance relative to your age group can help you make savings decisions down the line. Here’s what you need to know.
Read more >>Other news that caught our eye
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Goldman Sachs predicts that the S&P 500 could hit 6,000 points by year-end, up from previous estimates of 5,600.
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More Black and Hispanic women are in leadership roles in unions where they’re pushing for policies including family-friendly employee benefits.
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Comcast reported that cybercriminals stole the data of over 230,000 customers in a ransomware attack on a third-party debt collection company in February.
Financial planner tip of the day
“If you truly want to get better at spending and saving, then you may want to track both your daily spending habits and your long-term progress on your savings goals. This may feel difficult at first, but as with most things, it becomes easier with practice and as you hone the methods that work for you.”
Brian Walsh, CFP® at SoFi