Key Takeaways For beginners, their four best places to invest money are broad index funds, high-yield savings for a cash buffer, government bonds, and tax-advantaged retirement accounts. With low fees and a wide spread of stocks, index funds provide an easy core. Savings at three to five percent cover the short-term necessities. Bonds contribute stable … Read more
Key Takeaways The end of a bull market marks the shift from rising asset prices to a sustained downturn, often after peaks in valuation and optimism. Typical indicators are weaker market breadth, decelerating earnings growth, tighter credit, increasing real rates, and escalating volatility. Valuations compress as cash flow outlooks cool and liquidity thins. Previous ones … Read more
Key Takeaways Investing in a bull market is the practice of purchasing securities as prices are increasing sector by sector and index by index. Trends have stronger earnings and strong cash flows and broader risk appetite. Swings and steep pullbacks persist. Smart habits help: set clear goals, spread risk across stocks, bonds, and cash, use … Read more
Key Takeaways Dividend growth investing strategy is a long-term strategy that focuses on companies that have a history of increasing their dividend year over year. Investors monitor the dividend growth rate, payout ratio below 60%, and balance yield with earnings stability. Reinvested payouts can lift your yield on cost over 10 to 15 years and … Read more
Key Takeaways Among the longest bull markets in history are the 2009–2020 U.S. Rally, the 1987–2000 U.S. Expansion, and Japan’s 2012–2018 run. The 2009 cycle lasted around 131 months, with the S&P 500 increasing approximately 400 percent. The 1987 one ran 150 months, with returns of approximately 580 percent on the S&P 500. Japan’s Abenomics … Read more
Key Takeaways Bull markets last four to six years on average, depending on the time period measured. Since 1926, a number of studies place the average around seven years, while post-1950 numbers run closer to four to five years. The 2009–2020 U.S. Run was approximately 11 years, while 1982–1987 ran for only five. Short bursts … Read more
On October 12, 2025, the current S&P 500 bull market marked its third anniversary. Three years earlier, the index had closed at 3,577 amid fears that inflation was spiraling out of control. That day, stocks rebounded sharply after an early drop, a sign that often signals a turning point. Since then, the rally has remained … Read more