Warnings of a potential recession aren’t surprising given how many tripwires there are in today’s economy.
A push by the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates and combat high inflation . Supply chain shortages. An ongoing global health crisis. And of course, the geopolitical earthquake caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is also threatening to create a world food crisis.
Even if the US doesn’t fall into a recession — and there are signs it may not — there are plenty of economic headwinds that could have potentially negative effects on your finances. Here are ways to assess your situation and guard against losses.
With ultra-low unemployment and plenty of openings , it’s a job seeker’s market right now. But if there’s a recession, that could change quickly. So make hay while you can.
“If you are not working, or are looking for a better position, now would be a good time to take advantage of the very strong job market and lock in a position,” said Florida-based certified financial planner Mari Adam.
To help in your search, here are some resume dos and don’ts to keep in mind.
If you’ve been on the fence about selling your home, now might be the time to make the leap.
The housing market has been on a tear, with year-over-year prices up 19.8% in February , according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price report.
But mortgage rates are also on the rise , which may dampen demand. “I would suggest that anyone planning to put their house on the market do so right away,” said Adam.
Having liquid assets to cover you in emergencies or severe market downturns is always a good idea. But it’s especially crucial when facing big events beyond your control — including layoffs, which typically increase during recessions.
That means having enough money set aside in cash, money market funds or short-term fixed income instruments to cover several months of living expenses, emergencies or any big, anticipated expense (e.g., a down payment or college tuition). How much do I need for emergency savings? This is also advisable if you are near or in retirement. In that case, you may want to set aside a year or more of living expenses that you would ordinarily pay for with withdrawals from your portfolio, said Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning, retirement income and wealth management at Charles Schwab. This should be the amount you would need to supplement your fixed income payments, such as Social Security or a private pension.
In addition, Williams suggests having two to four years in lower volatility investments like a short-term bond fund.
That will help you ride out any market downturns should one occur and give your investments time to recover.
Rapid-fire news reports about higher energy and food prices or talk of a potential world war or nuclear attack are unnerving.
But making financial decisions based on an emotional response to current events is often a losing proposition.
“Making a radical change in the midst of all this uncertainty is usually a decision that [you’ll] regret,” said Don Bennyhoff, chief investment officer for Liberty Wealth Advisors and a former investment strategist at Vanguard.
Look back at periods of crisis over the last century and you’ll see that stocks typically came back faster than anyone might have expected in the moment, and did well on average over time.
For example, since the financial crisis hit in 2008, the S&P 500 has returned 11% a year on average through 2021, according to data analyzed by First Trust Advisors. The worst year in that period was 2008, when stocks fell 38%. But in most of the years that followed, the index posted a gain. And four of its annual gains ranged between 23% and 30%. I’m retired, how long will my savings last? “Staying the course may be hard on your nerves, but it can be healthiest for your portfolio,” Williams said.
That’s not to discount the seriousness of nuclear threats or the chance that this period could diverge from historical patterns. But were things to truly escalate globally, he noted, “we’d have more to be concerned about than our investment portfolios.” Review your risk tolerance It’s easy to say you have a high tolerance for risk when stocks are soaring. But you have to be able to stomach the volatility that inevitably comes with investing over time.So review your holdings to make sure they still align with your risk tolerance for a potentially rockier road ahead. And while you’re at it, figure out what it means to you […]
source Recession fears are mounting. Here’s how to protect your money
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