A few thoughtsMigraine:
We may differ on our investment strategies but I hold your experience and especially your choice to share in the highest regard. I'm directing my energy today (some would call it prayer) towards you and your wife today. I trust that you will find a way.
World events:
We are witnessing X, formally Twitter, changing the world in real time. It is not that X started it all, or is the only source of truth, but X has lead the charge to transparency that has opened Pandora's Box. I can only speak for myself but I expect that many are seeing that everyone's opinion being given equal time is both eye-opening and confusing. The agendas of advertisers that were propogated via the media that were once accepted at "the truth" but are now being exposed for what they are. I think that is a good thing, but it certainly leaves me with more questions than answers.
In the past, the media presented one viewpoint and we were all able to go to sleep at night knowing that "we" were going to win. As time progresses, it becomes more and more clear that right and wrong is more a matter of "in the eyes of the beholder" and that what the media presents doesn't just "make it so".
I'm finding myself taking a new look with a fresh perspective on many of the world events. For example the media has presented a single "American" perspective in the past. Now that the history of Palestine is being presented from multiple perspectives, it is easy to see that the story of Palestine has been presented from a very incomplete and inaccurate American perspective in the past. Does that make bombings and exectutions acceptable? Of course not, but people can only take so much until they snap and there has been lots of ammunition to support an outcry. I don't think the events in Israel or the Ukraine will create WW3 which might have occured without the transparency now being offered by the "new" media.
Popular vloggers are getting massive viewership that is dwarfing the following for commentators from Fox and CNN and MSNBC etc. Is that a good thing? My only answer to that is that people now have a choice and will follow their beliefs. The days of a "bought" media spouting specific agendas of advertisers and governments is dying fast and not a minute too soon.
Investments:
I believe investing is getting more confusing due to the enormous volume of information being produced. The ability for an investor to dig deep to find answers is a good thing, but how many people actually have to time and skill set to do so? Even when truth seekers dig, they will find that the media is controlled by those with an agenda. The media is grossly lacking in time/resources/skills to be able to draw worthwhile conclusions. For exampe, the talking heads on Yahoo Finance and the "finance" shows on the networks are an embarassment imo.
So, what can you hold on to?
When interest rates go up, assets like stocks and real estate go down and vice versa. Dividend paying and technology stocks are very susceptible to interst rates but for different reasons.
Great companies with strong track records are likely to out perform but it is important to remain vigilant.
Change is inevitable and those that don't see or plan for the future will under perform.