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?

There’s an old saying in the commodities market that the cure for high prices is high prices. Will the highest rate of inflation in four decades force consumers and businesses to put away their wallets, or is the worst behind us?

The economic data overwhelmingly suggest that the economy is growing, but what if it’s all wrong and we’re at the precipice of the next recession. How bad could it get this time, and what can investors do today to prepare?

The carnage this year has been relentless, and the S&P 500 is flirting with bear market territory. What can history tell us about the severity of bear markets, and if the index continues to fall, what should investors do next?