10 FAQs About Stock Market Volatility, Coronavirus and Your Portfolio

We asked financial pros to weigh in on 10 of the questions at the top of everyone’s mind — from interest rate cuts to halting trading to expectations about the U.S. and global economies. Here’s what they had to say.

Plus:
Suze Orman on Coronavirus, Your Retirement and Recession Fears
There is perhaps no better person to sit down with this week to discuss what it means to be a life-long, level-headed, ready-for-retirement investor/TV host/best-selling author than Suze Orman. Her new book is "The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+: Winning Strategies to Make Your Money Last a Lifetime."

On this week’s must-listen HerMoney podcast* Suze and Jean dive right into the bear in the room: Market worries surrounding coronavirus, Suze’s advice on how to ride it out and when she thinks the market will rebound. They also discuss diversification and how it differs in 2020 from what we saw in 2008 — in other words, what moves do we need to make now that we didn’t make 12 years ago? Plus they get into classic Suze territory: New cars, emergency funds and lifestyle downsizing.

In Mailbag Jean covers measuring your returns in 2020, 2021 and beyond, what to buy during the downturn and what to do if you owe money to Uncle Sam this tax season.

Does the Fed Rate Cut Mean I Can Get a 0% Interest Rate Mortgage?
When the news broke that the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to zero to bolster the economy, HerMoney’s Kathryn Tuggle wondered (like lots of us): Does this mean rock-bottom mortgage rates are coming? Does a 0% mortgage exist?

Here’s what the 0% really means — and exactly who qualifies for the rate.

5 Ways to Keep Your Budget In Check (and Actually Save Money!) While You’re Working From Home
COVID-19 has already negatively impacted the world economy, but it doesn’t have to derail your monthly budget — in fact, it may open up new avenues for you and your family to save. While voluntarily quarantining at home, HerMoney staffers Slacked about how we’re keeping costs under control for the foreseeable future. Here are our best money-saving WFH tips to help you stay within your budget.

5 Things To Do With Your Portfolio Instead of Selling
Here’s some advice that may be harder to abide by than the near-impossible mandate to stop touching your face: Don’t touch your portfolio. We know, we know… easier said than done. But the payoff down the road is worth it if you can keep your mitts off your investments while the stock market is still roiling.

If sitting on your hands just isn’t your style — or if you’ve already fiddled around with your 401(k), IRA or other accounts — here are five to-dos that will pay off right now and when the stock market settles down.

Let's Get Through This... Together
Join us on the HerMoney social channels for amazing content, conversations and more. We’re here to help you get through everything from unexpectedly working from home to what to do if market volatility is pushing your financial anxiety to peak levels. In our private Facebook group, Jean Chatzky is live chatting regularly with members to help them wade through these uncertain financial times.

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An Email Series to Help You Tackle Your Family's Financial To-Do List

Even when everything seems to be about coronavirus, it's important to think about the future. That's why we teamed up with Fabric, a one-stop shop for organizing your family's finances, to create a "what you need to know at every age" guide. Tell us your kid's birthday and we'll send you a "gotta know" list for your finances each year tailored to your exact stage of life. Plus, we'll send a financial check-up every quarter, too. Sign up for this tailored to-do list today.