The Balance

2 weeks ago | thebalancemoney.com | Kristin Myers

I’m a working class person acquiring knowledge about index funds and the S&P 500. I have an extra $2,000 and I'd like to invest. What would you suggest? Also, I’m interested in bitcoin. Can I invest $100? Is Edward Jones Financial a good place to begin transactions?                            Sincerely, Paula I’m so glad you decided to start building wealth by investing! This is a long-term journey, so the first thing to do is to keep your emotions in check when it comes to investing.

1 month ago | thebalancemoney.com | Kristin Myers

As we head into the holiday season, investors are feeling increasingly anxious about the possibility of a recession, and rising interest rates. In a televised interview earlier today, New York Fed President John Williams stated the Federal Reserve will continue to “do what’s necessary” in order to bring inflation in line with the central bank’s goal. The Fed has a 2% inflation target, and with the annual rate of inflation at 7.1%, there is clearly a long way to go.

2 months ago | thebalancemoney.com | Kristin Myers

I've had a lot of financial success, especially in contrast to my socioeconomic background. My family is so supportive, wonderful, and kind and I literally wouldn't have any of this success if it were not for their love, advice, and encouragement (not to mention all the loans my parents took out to send me to college!). I find myself wanting to just shower them with gifts, experiences, etc.

2 months ago | thebalancemoney.com | Kristin Myers

Just ahead of the Christmas holiday, the Commerce Department released its latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, an important gauge of inflation. The index rose 0.1% in November, down from October's 0.4% gain, in another sign that inflation is easing.1 The index was up 5.5% from a year ago, slowing from 6.1% the month before. The core rate, which excludes more volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2% last month and 4.7% from a year ago, slowing from 5% in October.

2 months ago | thebalancemoney.com | Kristin Myers

If there was one phenomenon that impacted people’s finances in 2022, it was inflation. We’re paying a lot more for basic things these days than we did a year ago.1 Gas prices shot up quickly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.2 Prices have been up and down since then, but by the end of the year, they had returned to pre-invasion levels.