Ben Stiller

So I hear this a lot from people right now. And at first, it might sound a little surprising when I say, by some measures, the job market looks pretty good right now. The unemployment rate is low. We hear about some high-profile layoffs, but layoffs in the aggregate are still pretty infrequent. And so if you have a job right now, at least at this moment, it looks like things are kind of okay.

So I hear this a lot from people right now. And at first, it might sound a little surprising when I say, by some measures, the job market looks pretty good right now. The unemployment rate is low. We hear about some high-profile layoffs, but layoffs in the aggregate are still pretty infrequent. And so if you have a job right now, at least at this moment, it looks like things are kind of okay.

What we also know is that it's a hard time to be looking for a job. And I think that's what these listeners are getting at. So a lot of it has to do with this uncertainty that we're in right now. Companies are trying to figure out what's happening in the economy and where things are going. They're not in such bad shape that they're cutting jobs, but they're also very reluctant to hire.

What we also know is that it's a hard time to be looking for a job. And I think that's what these listeners are getting at. So a lot of it has to do with this uncertainty that we're in right now. Companies are trying to figure out what's happening in the economy and where things are going. They're not in such bad shape that they're cutting jobs, but they're also very reluctant to hire.

And so it's this sort of stagnant labor market where if you're trying to get that foot in the door or you're trying to get that next step up in your career, it could be really tough because all of these businesses are out there just saying, let's hold off and see where things are. We'll touch base again in a few months.

And so it's this sort of stagnant labor market where if you're trying to get that foot in the door or you're trying to get that next step up in your career, it could be really tough because all of these businesses are out there just saying, let's hold off and see where things are. We'll touch base again in a few months.

So it depends a little bit on what we're talking about when we talk about tariffs, right? If we talk about 145% tariffs on everybody, that's going to be a very bad situation for a lot of companies. But yeah, the uncertainty is a really big issue here.

So it depends a little bit on what we're talking about when we talk about tariffs, right? If we talk about 145% tariffs on everybody, that's going to be a very bad situation for a lot of companies. But yeah, the uncertainty is a really big issue here.

On some level, businesses can navigate a difficult environment if they know what it is that they're going to be facing and they can make appropriate decisions. But when you don't know when, you know, one day the tariffs are on, the next they're off, one day they're on, you know, China but not on Europe, the next day maybe that flips. And it's not just tariffs, right?

On some level, businesses can navigate a difficult environment if they know what it is that they're going to be facing and they can make appropriate decisions. But when you don't know when, you know, one day the tariffs are on, the next they're off, one day they're on, you know, China but not on Europe, the next day maybe that flips. And it's not just tariffs, right?

It's everything we're hearing around federal job cuts and doge. It's everything, the uncertainty around immigration policy. All of this makes it difficult for companies to make decisions. And so a lot of companies are on hold. One possibility, right, is we eventually get some certainty and companies start hiring again. Right.

It's everything we're hearing around federal job cuts and doge. It's everything, the uncertainty around immigration policy. All of this makes it difficult for companies to make decisions. And so a lot of companies are on hold. One possibility, right, is we eventually get some certainty and companies start hiring again. Right.

But there's another very real possibility, which is that eventually they do start cutting jobs. If we see these tariffs hit, if we see consumers pull back, if we see a real slowdown in the economy, companies won't be on hold anymore. They'll be cutting jobs and we'll see unemployment rise.

But there's another very real possibility, which is that eventually they do start cutting jobs. If we see these tariffs hit, if we see consumers pull back, if we see a real slowdown in the economy, companies won't be on hold anymore. They'll be cutting jobs and we'll see unemployment rise.

So yeah, I'm definitely not a financial advisor. And I'm definitely not in a position to tell anybody specifically what to do. But look, I think you're right that that is underlying a lot of these questions. And it's interesting to me, right, a lot of those questions sounded like they were coming from people in their 30s, even younger than that.

So yeah, I'm definitely not a financial advisor. And I'm definitely not in a position to tell anybody specifically what to do. But look, I think you're right that that is underlying a lot of these questions. And it's interesting to me, right, a lot of those questions sounded like they were coming from people in their 30s, even younger than that.

If you're in your 20s, if you're in your 30s, you've mostly experienced a stock market that has been rising. You've had some dips along the way, but it bounces back relatively quickly. And, you know, we hear buy the dip, right? Stocks fall like, great, they're on sale. Let's buy them up and profit from it. That's worked out pretty well over the last few years.

If you're in your 20s, if you're in your 30s, you've mostly experienced a stock market that has been rising. You've had some dips along the way, but it bounces back relatively quickly. And, you know, we hear buy the dip, right? Stocks fall like, great, they're on sale. Let's buy them up and profit from it. That's worked out pretty well over the last few years.

It doesn't always work that way, right? Stocks historically have gone up over time, but over time is a really important caveat there. Mm-hmm. The standard financial advice is don't put money into the stock market that you need in the next couple of years and put money in that you can afford to risk and don't try to time the market. If you're sitting here saying like, should I start my 401k?

It doesn't always work that way, right? Stocks historically have gone up over time, but over time is a really important caveat there. Mm-hmm. The standard financial advice is don't put money into the stock market that you need in the next couple of years and put money in that you can afford to risk and don't try to time the market. If you're sitting here saying like, should I start my 401k?