The markets may be in a tizzy, but "consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Jesus in Matthew 6:28-20). So enjoy the Springtime flowers — and know that the same God who renews the Earth each Spring knows your needs and is watching over you.
Here’s this week’s Roundup of interesting articles on investing, personal finance, and stewardship.
The 2 types of bear markets (Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense). "Bear markets that occur outside of a recession tend to be shallower and less lengthy while recessionary bears are greater in both magnitude and time."
Behavioral challenges of market cycles (Barry Ritholtz, The Big Picture). Emotional responses are the enemy of good decision-making.
Right now, but wrong later (Nick Maggiulli, Of Dollars and Data). A market-timing approach can be somewhat effective if executed with great discipline and in light of particular market conditions. But discipline doesn’t come easy, and no one can predict conditions with consistent precision.
It’s the worst bond market since 1842. That’s the good news. (Jason Zweig, Wall Street Journal). "As prices fall, yields rise, so the recent rout in bonds has raised their expected returns."
Bitcoin, NFTs, SPACs, meme stocks — all those pandemic investment darlings are crashing (Los Angeles Times). Many novel investments were pitched as countercyclical alternatives that would save investors from a bear market. So far, it hasn’t worked out that way.
Why midterm election years are tough for the stock market (Jeff Sommer, New York Times News Service via Fidelity). Data going back more than a century shows that the second year of a presidential term has generally been the weakest for the stock market.
Twenty lessons learned (Michael Batnick, The Irrelevant Investor). Among them: "Nothing is risk-free" and "Nobody knows what will happen next."
US casinos had best month ever in March, winning $5.3B (Associated Press). Many Americans enjoy risking their money. Casinos, and other betting venues, are happy to oblige. After all, "the house always wins."
Summer jobs for teens come with tax traps and benefits (Wall Street Journal). Tax questions and answers for summer job holders and their parents.
5 lessons learned by the boy with five loaves and two fish (Art Rainer via MoneyWise). Maybe you feel like your resources are little. What could God ever do with them?
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