When the stock market declines by 20% from its highs, it's called a bear market. And boy, are we in one. In fact, this is the worst first half of the year stocks have suffered in 52 years. Nixon was in the White House the last time stocks fell this much from January to June.

How did we get here, and what can we look forward to next? That's what we're talking about this week.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Today our special guests are John Schneider and David Auten from the Debt Free Guys.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

Podcast Article:
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-this-horrible-stock-market/

What's the deal with this bear market?

We're in a bear market. What does that mean? Well, it means that a stock index you're following is down 20% from its recent high. So how did we get here and why are stocks doing so poorly?

• Miranda has an article at Forbes about the definition of a market correction, including what makes a bear market.
• Could the bear market push us into a recession? Marketwatch has more on what's next for the economy.
• Check out our podcast episode on whether it's a good time to buy stocks.
• Supply chain issues could be contributing to our current woes. But what if the issues get fixed? What items might see lower costs?
• Read our article on the signs that a recession is on the way.
• Listen to our podcast episode discussing whether a recession is on the way.

Should you invest during a down market?

It's a scary time to invest, but does that mean you shouldn't? We share our current investment strategies and talk about how you can make the most of a bear market.

• Start out with an article on Money Talks News about what to do when your investments are lower.
• Are you getting ready to retire? We have an article on what to do when retiring during a bear market.
• Want to start investing while stocks are on sale? Our guests have a simple guide to start investing.
• Now that things are a bit uncertain, is now the time to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth? We've got an article about why a bear market might be the time for a Roth conversion.
• Not sure how to invest right now? Check out our YouTube interview with David Stein on how to invest when everything is falling.
• Now is a good time to learn how to be a better investor. Miranda shares tips on how you can improve your ability to invest.
• A bear market can be a good time to harvest losses for tax purposes. Check out our article on how to use tax loss harvesting and other strategies to reduce taxes.

Meet this week's guests, The Debt Free Guys

David & John Auten-Schneider are the Debt Free Guys and hosts of the Queer Money podcast. They enjoy helping their community live fabulously not fabulously broke.

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