A simple cross-asset overview for non-experts By Rajesh Sharma If you're trying to understand what's happening in financial markets, you're probably hearing about three main categories: stocks, bonds, and commodities. Each moves for different reasons, and right now, they're telling three distinct
By Amanda Carlson If you've been feeling confused about whether you should be saving or investing your money, you're not alone. Financial advice often treats them as interchangeable, but they're fundamentally different tools designed for different purposes. Understanding when to use each can make
Helps readers understand economic cycles without fear-driven headlines By Katherine Brennan Open any news site and you'll likely see conflicting economic headlines: "Recession fears mount" sits next to "Economy proves resilient." So which is it? The truth, as usual, is more nuanced than the
By Amanda Carlson Here's a fact that sounds impossible until you see the data: about 41% of American workers earning between $300,000 and $500,000 annually live paycheck to paycheck. So do 40% of those making over $500,000. Meanwhile, people earning modest incomes who practice solid
When headlines celebrate inflation "cooling" to 2.7%, you might wonder why your grocery bill still feels crushing. The answer reveals something fundamental about how inflation works and why it doesn't affect everyone equally. What Inflation Actually Means Inflation measures how fast prices are rising, not
From healthcare to infrastructure to jobs, connecting policy to people By David Thornton When politicians debate spending bills in Washington, it's easy to tune out. Billions here, trillions there, the numbers feel abstract, disconnected from your morning commute or your family's health insurance. But government spending
Not stock picks, economic relevance and trends By Laura Fitzgerald When people talk about "global markets," they usually mean the U.S. stock market. But in 2026, several other markets matter just as much not necessarily for their investment returns, but because they're reshaping trade, controlling
A big-picture snapshot of growth, inflation and risk across major regions By David Thornton If you've been wondering whether the world economy can handle all the uncertainty thrown at it lately, here's the short answer: surprisingly well, but with some serious caveats. The Big Picture on
When the Federal Reserve announces it's keeping interest rates steady or cutting them by a quarter point, it might sound abstract and distant from your life. But that decision determines whether you can afford a house, how much you earn on your savings, and what you'll
Explores individuals, social media, and market psychology By Rajesh Sharma Five years ago, individual investors were an afterthought in market analysis. They represented background noise, a small fraction of trading volume that institutional investors could safely ignore. That world is gone. Retail investors now account for roughly 20.5% of
When headlines talk about recession fears or economic slowdowns, they're often used interchangeably but they're actually very different things. Understanding this distinction matters because one describes an economy that's struggling but still growing, while the other describes an economy that's actively shrinking.
Cuts through short-term noise By Laura Fitzgerald If you check your portfolio every day, you're probably exhausted. The market goes up, the market goes down, headlines scream about rallies and crashes, and you're left wondering: does any of this actually matter for my retirement account? Here&
Explains productivity, technology, labor, and long-term economic health By David Thornton If you've noticed economists suddenly getting excited about "productivity," you're not imagining things. It's become the economic buzzword of 2026, and for good reason, recent numbers suggest something important might be
By Amanda Carlson When economists say inflation is "cooling" to 2.7%, it sounds like good news. But if you're standing in the grocery store staring at prices that seem permanently higher, you're experiencing the reality those statistics miss: inflation doesn't reverse.
A behavioral and macro look at volatility By Rajesh Sharma You check your portfolio in the morning and it's down 2%. By lunch, it's recovered. No major news broke. No company announced bankruptcy. No crisis erupted. So why did the market just swing hundreds of billions
Politicians say "the economy is strong." Economists point to GDP growth. Your neighbor complains they can't afford groceries. Somehow, all three statements can be true simultaneously. So what does "the economy" actually mean, and why does it feel so different depending on who'
An educational piece grounded in data and behavior By Laura Fitzgerald Every investor has felt the temptation: sell before the crash, buy back in at the bottom, and pocket the difference. It sounds simple. The problem? Decades of data show that trying to time the market is one of the
A mindset-shifting foundational article By Michael Zhang Here's a paradox that explains modern American finances: forty-one percent of workers earning between $300,000 and $500,000 annually live paycheck to paycheck. So do 40% of those making over $500,000. Meanwhile, the top 1% of households controlled 31.
Explains GDP growth vs real living standards, wages, and cost of living By Katherine brennan You've probably heard politicians or economists celebrate GDP growth, pointing to it as proof the economy is doing well. But if you're like most people, you might be thinking: "Then
Emergency funds, debt, and cash flow By Michael Zhang If you're scrolling through social media, it feels like everyone's investing in something: stocks, crypto, real estate. Meanwhile, you're wondering if you should jump in too, even though your bank account feels uncomfortably low most
Structural issues, inflation, and income realities By Michael Zhang You have a job. You're not unemployed. You show up every day, collect a paycheck, maybe even got a raise last year. So why does it feel like you're falling behind? You're not imagining it.
A global-south focused piece on demographics, productivity, and opportunity By Katherine Brennan While wealthy nations worry about aging populations and shrinking workforces, a different demographic story is unfolding across Africa and Asia, one that could reshape the global economy over the next decade. The Numbers That Matter By 2030, 40%
If economic headlines leave you more confused than informed, you're not alone. One day you read "Economy Roars Ahead with 3.4% Growth." The next: "Unemployment Rises as Job Market Weakens." Both are true. Both happened simultaneously. So what's actually going on?
When the Federal Reserve announces interest rate decisions, it might sound like abstract financial policy. But those decisions create a ripple effect that touches your job security, your monthly loan payments, and the prices you pay at stores. Here's how it all connects. The Basic Mechanism The Federal