Sean Pyles

But first, we're going to talk about whether it's safe to invest right now and if you should trust the market at all, given the way it's behaved over the last several weeks.

But first, we're going to talk about whether it's safe to invest right now and if you should trust the market at all, given the way it's behaved over the last several weeks.

Well, I'll remind you, Elizabeth, and everyone listening, that while I am a financial planner, I'm not your financial planner. So don't take this as personalized advice and don't get litigious if your investments don't perform like you want them to. But here is what I'm thinking. Investing remains most folks' best bet for staying ahead of inflation.

Well, I'll remind you, Elizabeth, and everyone listening, that while I am a financial planner, I'm not your financial planner. So don't take this as personalized advice and don't get litigious if your investments don't perform like you want them to. But here is what I'm thinking. Investing remains most folks' best bet for staying ahead of inflation.

Well, I'll remind you, Elizabeth, and everyone listening, that while I am a financial planner, I'm not your financial planner. So don't take this as personalized advice and don't get litigious if your investments don't perform like you want them to. But here is what I'm thinking. Investing remains most folks' best bet for staying ahead of inflation.

as in the return you get on your investments is greater than the rate of inflation, typically. And because of that, I can't afford not to invest, regardless of what sort of wackiness is going on with the stock market or tariffs or the news of the day.

as in the return you get on your investments is greater than the rate of inflation, typically. And because of that, I can't afford not to invest, regardless of what sort of wackiness is going on with the stock market or tariffs or the news of the day.

as in the return you get on your investments is greater than the rate of inflation, typically. And because of that, I can't afford not to invest, regardless of what sort of wackiness is going on with the stock market or tariffs or the news of the day.

Yeah, I feel that. And one thing to keep in mind is that there is never a guarantee that the money you put into an investment will grow. That's just the risk of investing. But over the long run, investing has been a reliable way to build wealth. The average return over the past 100 years has been 10% back during inflation and is closer to 7% or 8%.

Yeah, I feel that. And one thing to keep in mind is that there is never a guarantee that the money you put into an investment will grow. That's just the risk of investing. But over the long run, investing has been a reliable way to build wealth. The average return over the past 100 years has been 10% back during inflation and is closer to 7% or 8%.

Yeah, I feel that. And one thing to keep in mind is that there is never a guarantee that the money you put into an investment will grow. That's just the risk of investing. But over the long run, investing has been a reliable way to build wealth. The average return over the past 100 years has been 10% back during inflation and is closer to 7% or 8%.

And last year, the S&P 500 was up over 20% and the Nasdaq was up almost 30%. Because of the banner year that we had in 2024, some analysts were saying that some stocks were overvalued and were due for a correction. It looks like that's part of what's happening right now. And I'm also seeing a lot of chatter about how, quote, this time feels different.

And last year, the S&P 500 was up over 20% and the Nasdaq was up almost 30%. Because of the banner year that we had in 2024, some analysts were saying that some stocks were overvalued and were due for a correction. It looks like that's part of what's happening right now. And I'm also seeing a lot of chatter about how, quote, this time feels different.

And last year, the S&P 500 was up over 20% and the Nasdaq was up almost 30%. Because of the banner year that we had in 2024, some analysts were saying that some stocks were overvalued and were due for a correction. It looks like that's part of what's happening right now. And I'm also seeing a lot of chatter about how, quote, this time feels different.

Maybe this is the period of market volatility that sends the whole system crashing down. And the folks saying that are right in a way. This time does feel different. We haven't seen this specific convergence of circumstances before. But here's the thing. Every time is different. No two market crashes or economic calamities are the same.

Maybe this is the period of market volatility that sends the whole system crashing down. And the folks saying that are right in a way. This time does feel different. We haven't seen this specific convergence of circumstances before. But here's the thing. Every time is different. No two market crashes or economic calamities are the same.

Maybe this is the period of market volatility that sends the whole system crashing down. And the folks saying that are right in a way. This time does feel different. We haven't seen this specific convergence of circumstances before. But here's the thing. Every time is different. No two market crashes or economic calamities are the same.

And that can be really hard to reckon with because as humans, we like predictable patterns. When we see something unfamiliar or scary, it can lead us to act irrationally or make decisions from an emotionally heightened state.

And that can be really hard to reckon with because as humans, we like predictable patterns. When we see something unfamiliar or scary, it can lead us to act irrationally or make decisions from an emotionally heightened state.

And that can be really hard to reckon with because as humans, we like predictable patterns. When we see something unfamiliar or scary, it can lead us to act irrationally or make decisions from an emotionally heightened state.