#finance-advice

#finance-advice

The challenges we all face are significant. The list is long but at the top are the terrible ongoing war and violence in Ukraine, the current war in Iran and the broader hostilities in the Middle East, terrorist activity and growing geopolitical tensions, importantly with China.

"I'm surprised by how neutral the rule was, when you think about the massive amount of lobbying there's been around it. It doesn't say certain assets are good or bad. Instead, it really focuses on making a rules-based framework instead of a litigation-based one."

I think that most people who are focused on oil prices right now think that if this happens tonight, you're looking at much higher oil prices and for a very long time.

High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration up to $250,000, per depositor, per insured institution.

The Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund Investor Shares (VWINX) has delivered a strong 9.17% annualized return since inception, before taxes, making it a solid choice for retirees.

The geopolitical backdrop in the Middle East remained tense after renewed threats to Iranian infrastructure from President Donald Trump, although reports of a potential deal could limit the demand for the dollar.

Figure Technology Solutions reported Q1 2026 originations of $2.9 billion, more than double year-over-year, with monthly volumes crossing $1 billion in March 2026.

The fund holds roughly 3,900 stocks across developed markets outside the United States, collecting dividends from those companies and passing them through to fund holders quarterly. No options strategies, no leverage, no synthetic structures. The fund simply owns stocks and distributes what those stocks pay.

TLT holds U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities greater than 20 years, collecting fixed semi-annual coupons that are passed through as monthly distributions.

The sharp rise in oil prices and renewed inflation concerns created significant pressure on both stocks and bonds, impacting investor sentiment and market dynamics.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) is the most widely held energy ETF in the U.S., with roughly $38 billion in net assets, spanning the full energy value chain.

The fund blends high yield corporate bonds, senior loans, and debt tranches of U.S. collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) into a single actively managed portfolio, aiming to deliver income that beats the broad bond market while keeping volatility lower than any single segment on its own.