The velocity of this week’s news cycle feels like it must be hitting all-time highs. Financial markets have had plenty of reasons to experience price volatility in 2020; uncertainty has been high, and markets, for the most, part hate uncertainty.

The terms “bull market” and “bear market” are commonly cited as descriptors of stock market behavior. Perhaps you have seen various bull and bear statues or images meant to symbolize the stock market. What do the terms mean, and from where did they originate?

Approximately 70% of stocks in the S&P 500 stock index now have a dividend yield greater than the current yield of a 10-year U.S. Treasury Bond

Over the past nineteen years, our world has faced numerous tragedies, setbacks, and surprises. Without diluting or forgetting the significance of any single event, we find that a common denominator includes; resilience, unity, and finding ways to advance.

Stock market volatility increased in recent days despite a relatively quiet week of financial headlines. To compare market movements to an ocean freighter, it doesn’t take much of a cargo load-shift to one side to cause a scene.

When it comes to planning for and living your financial life (wealth management), it’s not a race against a particular market index. It’s about making thoughtful decisions for the future based on the information available today.

Companies repurchase shares for a variety of reasons. Commonly shares are bought back because the stock price is viewed as undervalued or that no better investment opportunities exist for the company’s cash.

Why do companies do stock splits if there is no change in value? A lower share price is more accessible to a broader base of investors and could increase liquidity by having more market participants able to buy and sell the stock. Also, there’s a psychological component.