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Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no doubt about it - these are trying times for everyone physically, mentally and emotionally. Even if you aren't a healthcare professional or other essential worker on the front lines, it’s still difficult to cope with the dramatic change in lifestyle and stress we’re all experiencing. Giving ourselves permission for a high level of self care is more important than ever. Remaining in quarantine for an extended amount of time is a challenge. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations, but there are things we can all do to remain mentally strong. Below we’re offering eight tips to help anyone better manage their mental health while social distancing at home.

For a limited time, Americans have the option to withdraw up to $100,000 from their 401(k) or IRA. Considering taking advantage of this change? We'll go over what you need to know before deciding.

To help prevent further spread of COVID-19, there’s a consensus that Americans need to stay home and adhere to social distancing practices. This is especially recommended if one feels sick or has a suspected or confirmed case of the virus. As directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s important to self-quarantine and be mindful of personal hygiene, such as washing your hands and the like. Our health and the health of the nation is top of mind, but the question remains: will U.S. workers still get paid if they stay home?

On March 11, 2020 we officially entered a bear market. It was the fastest plunge into a bear market in history. Like many Americans, you’ve likely heard the terms “bull” and “bear” in regards to the market, but what do they mean exactly, and how does a bear market relate to a recession? We’ll discuss below. What Is a Bear Market? A bear market refers to a period of time in which stock prices decline and the overall market outlook is pessimistic. Beyond the daily fluctuations of the market, a bear market is typically marked by a 20 percent or more fall in the market index over at least a two-month period. Bear markets throughout history have varied greatly in severity and length of time. For example, two of the longest bear markets experienced in America include the Stock Market Crash of 1929, which lasted 34 months and the more recent 2007 financial crisis, in which the bear market lasted over 27 months.

March Madness is nearly upon us and as many of us know, this season highlight for college basketball fans is often full of upsets, underdogs and blowouts. Like investing, filling out a bracket involves balancing risk, reward and expectations, and winning a pool ultimately requires a bit of luck along the way. Here are a few lessons from March Madness that we can apply to the world of investing.

We’ve seen the market volatility increase substantially in the last week, due to growing concerns over the coronavirus, and its impact on the global economy. While it certainly is more fun to watch the market climb to record highs, it’s important on all occasions not to try to time the market. Downward turns in the market present opportunities for entry rather than exit. In fact, moving investments out of the stock market now could cause long term damage. The name of the game remains having a long-term planning strategy with the amount of risk appropriate for each person’s unique situation. A safe plan is one that encourages staying the course and remaining true to your avaii, latin for life plan, in every market scenario.