How do you explain the value of financial planning to people who don’t know what it is? Why it matters, and why it’s worth paying for? 

 

On the one hand, it’s simple. 

 

On the other, it’s really not. 

Anyone who travels abroad frequently has felt the impact of currency fluctuations. The price of your favorite hotel or restaurant can change from one trip to the next simply because of exchange rates. Currency shifts also affect investments outside your home market. Investing in a foreign stock, for example, means being exposed to the underlying currency as well as the stock itself. In the first half of 2025, the US dollar depreciated by as much as 12% against other major currencies, adding to returns of non-US investments. In periods of dollar appreciation, the reverse has been true. 

One of the most common investor questions regarding the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is “How do I take advantage of it in my portfolio?” The good news for investors is diversified equity portfolios already have exposure, mainly because AI tools touch nearly every type of business these days. 

Since mid-June, news around the world has focused on the conflict between Israel and Iran. As with any major geopolitical event, investors face uncertainty about the impact these events might have on global economies and financial markets. 

For investors seeking positive future returns, Bitcoin offers little reliable reason to expect them. But could it make sense for investors seeking a store of value? 

Against the backdrop of heightened political uncertainty, potential trade wars, and lower consumer sentiment, investors may have concerns about whether the US could tip into a recession. 

With a stark shift in US tariff policy announced on April 2 and ongoing responses worldwide, many investors are on edge. Volatility as measured by the VIX index has spiked to levels not seen in nearly five years. But when there is real economic uncertainty and information is quickly changing, volatility is a sign that markets are functioning. 

Investing, like a roller coaster, has its ups and downs. One minute you’re climbing higher and the next a sudden decline makes your stomach drop. A few reminders can help investors to relax amid the turbulence. 

On Monday, January 27, NVIDIA dropped nearly $600 billion in market value upon news of a relatively cheap, open-source AI model from China. 

Financial markets showed resilience in 2024, extending the bull market that began in late 2022 as stocks weathered interest-rate changes, uncertainty around the US elections, and the ups and downs of the Magnificent 7 stocks. The S&P 500 posted a gain of more than 20% after falling short of that mark a year earlier, when it rose 19%. While there were some notable downturns through the year, they were followed by quick recoveries.