Midterm elections are less than three months away, and both political parties are already at war. With so much on the line, what can investors do to mentally prepare for what could become the most contentious election cycle in years?

The first half of the year was one of the worst ever for the stock market, but since mid-June, stocks have reversed course. Was that the bottom for the market, and if so, will it get back to smooth sailing from here?

Recently, the “greenback” has surged higher relative to other major currencies and caught the attention of the media and investors globally. Given the dollar’s role in the global economy, what are the implications for U.S. based investors?

The first half was one of the worst starts to a year ever. Record inflation, rising interest rates, and meteoric valuations took the wind out of the sails of financial markets. The fear and panic that has ensued has caught most investors off guard, and the debate surrounding whether or not the U.S. is already in a recession is well underway. But there are signs that the fear pendulum swung way too far, and the worst could be behind us. If so, the coming months could offer ample opportunity even if the economy were to deteriorate further.

The last six months were some of the toughest in a generation. Judging by the market indices, most investors didn’t see this coming. But let’s dig deeper to see why long-term goals aren’t dependent upon getting calls like these right every time.

There’s simply no way to sugarcoat the first half of the year. It’s been tough for pretty much everyone, and weeks like these test the resolve of even the most disciplined investors. Now that we’re officially in a bear market, what should we do next?