On this episode of Simply Money presented by Allworth Financial, Bob and Brian break down the stock market volatility tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the critical Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of global oil flows, looking back at the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, stagflation, and how markets have historically responded to geopolitical shocks. They also cover State Farm’s historic $5 billion dividend payout to auto policyholders, Google’s bold move to issue a 100-year bond as a long-term AI confidence play, and the reality of potential Social Security benefit reductions in the early 2030s. Finally, they wrap with listener questions on adjusting stock allocations amid global conflict, calculating emergency cash when income fluctuates, and whether to lock in gains early in retirement or simply rebalance and stay disciplined.

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