Dipping In
After a record-breaking run, the stock market began to wobble in February … with some experts bracing for a bigger drop. Deregulation, possible trade wars with longtime allies, and more are making plenty of institutional investors pause. But retail investors — normal people putting their own money into individual stocks, ETFs, crypto, etc. — are all-in on the market.
According to JP MorganChase, one in four US stock market trades aren’t coming from the fleece-vest Wall Street brigade, but from small investors. These traders often favor individual companies (like Tesla, Nvidia, Palantir, and Amazon) with headline-grabbing CEOs.
The good news? Women are savvy retail investors. Study after study shows we outperform men by playing the long game. We ride out volatility rather than panic-selling at the first sign of trouble and avoid the meme stocks. (Remember GameStop, anyone?)
The less-good news? Playing it safe can sometimes mean missing out on growth. And because women 1) earn less on average than men and 2) have a longer life expectancy than them, having a solid investing strategy is key—because those Golden Girls commune dreams aren’t going to fund themselves. So, if you haven’t yet tested the market waters beyond your 401(k), here are some things to consider…
Don’t bank on “buy the dip” (or any other Reddit advice). Everyone’s a financial advisor on the Internet. It’s easy to pick up investing “rules” like “buy the dip” — the idea that you should scoop up stocks on the decline in anticipation of a rebound. Great when it works. Not so much when a stock dips… and never recovers.
Proceed with caution on crypto. Don’t be afraid to dabble –– but don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose. Crypto doesn’t have the same guardrails as traditional assets (which is why words like “rug pull” and “heist” are common words you see in crypto headlines). A recent survey of financial advisors found that more than 60% of them think that recommending crypto is at odds with their fiduciary responsibility.
Single stock trades, meet ETFs. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) let you invest in a basket of stocks without having to pick individual winners. In other words, instead of just investing in Nvidia at around $115 a share, you can invest in an AI ETF, where you get exposure across different AI companies.
Ask questions. A Certified Financial Planner® (CFP) can answer all your Qs, map out your investing strategy, and help you figure out how much cash you can set aside for trading on your own. Tip: Look for a planner who offers consultation sessions , so you’re not locked into ongoing fees.
— “Deleting My Palantir Google Alert,” Anna Davies, writer
Read More
Starting tomorrow, new tariffs are set to hit everything from avocados to iPads, and execs from retail giants like Walmart and Best Buy have been clear: Shoppers will feel the impact.
No one's comparing bank account balances at their college reunion (we hope)... but there is a way to see how your net worth compares to your peers.
Attention, mortgage holders: Your microwave could be jacking up your heating bill, and that’s just one of many ways you could be damaging your house without realizing it. Oh, and if you’re selling, make this $5 investment before your next showing.
March is one of the most expensive travel months. Looking to save? It’s finally time to download a VPN, plus three other strategies to cut travel costs. And, bookmark this hack for figuring out the cheapest times of year to get out of town.
Team DOGE reportedly has access to student loan data now. Still paying yours down? Here are the key steps consumer advocates say you should take “immediately.”
That $100 Lyft credit isn’t going to redeem itself. Make sure you’re getting your money’s worth out of your credit card rewards this year.
Warren Buffett, 94-year-old McMuffin enthusiast and legendary billionaire CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, sent a status update to his shareholders. And, since he’s known as the “Oracle of Omaha” based on his business decisions and each share of Berkshire Hathaway costs nearly double the price of an average home, his words always get a 👀 from the rest of the investing world.
What Warren Buffett said...
“Despite what some commentators currently view as an extraordinary cash position at Berkshire, the great majority of your money remains in equities. That preference won’t change…. Berkshire shareholders can rest assured that we will forever deploy a substantial majority of their money in equities –– mostly American equities although many of these will have international operations of significance.”
Again, in English ...
Warren Buffett knows that we all want to know why he spent last year selling stocks and hoarding cash.
To the people in his mentions who worry that he’s prepping for a market downturn, Buffett’s basically saying, “no comment.”
He says he’s still betting on US companies (mostly Apple, Coca-Cola, and a few others). He’s also got five Japanese names on his favorites list (including Mitsubishi).
Q: I keep worrying about the dollar crashing. Should I be worried? How should I think about protecting my investments? — One Newscycle Away From Putting My Money Under My Mattress
FEATURED EXPERT:
There's a lot of doom and gloom in the news, I get why you're nervous!
Here's the thing. I can't promise the dollar isn't going to collapse. I also can't promise that the US economy isn't going to absolutely unwind, or that inflation won't hit double-digits like it did in the ‘80s.
All of those things are unlikely, though. And fear shouldn't be the primary driver behind what you do with your investments. Instead of worrying about low-probability events and things you can't control, I recommend taking concrete, common sense steps to protect your financial health.
First, beef up your emergency fund (and hold it in a high-yield savings account)! I usually recommend 3-6 months of spending in cash. If you're feeling worried, bump it up to a year of expenses saved, or even a year and a half.
Second, make sure your portfolio is diversified. If you're worried about the US dollar crashing and you have all your money in the S&P 500, you've got a problem. Make sure you own a balanced portfolio of bonds and domestic and international companies that aligns with your long-term goals and risk tolerance.
Third, stop looking at your portfolio. While I don't know what's coming next for the US economy, I do know that the surest way to build long-term wealth is by staying in the market. If you don't look at what's going on, you significantly decrease the risk that you're going to panic-sell during a market drop. During uncertain times like these, that is the REAL risk you want to avoid.
Tell Us
How are you feeling about the economy these days?
(This poll is no longer available)
Submit your money or work question for our panel of experts. Don't worry, it's anonymous.
Use the letters below to identify the word or phrase. Then, click to reveal the answer.
Clue: When company VIPs (execs, board members) sell shares of their own stock. It’s legal if they follow the rules, but large transactions can make other investors wonder if they know something the rest of us don’t. See: Palantir CEO Alex Karp making headlines for selling $1 billion of stock in the company.
💡How to Press Pause on Work — Without Falling Behind
Hitting pause on work can feel risky. What if you lose momentum? What if you can’t afford it? What if getting back in is harder than stepping out? For years, we’ve been told to lean in. But what if the real power move isn’t about leaning in or out — but knowing when (and how) to pause?
Join us for a conversation with career strategist Kimberly Brown and The Power Pause author Neha Ruch on how to take a break without losing ground. Because a career pause isn’t a setback—it’s a strategy.
Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.
Abercrombie & Fitch is taking 30% off in-season pieces, and 15% off almost everything else. The sale ends today, so get that really good maxi dress now.
Drop the $100 leggings and shop Old Navy's new activewear line instead. One of our shopping editors swears by these super-soft leggings.
Have you checked out the Everlane sale page lately? We're buying this $12 tee in multiples.
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
Live Smarter
Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes.