Those with a well-functioning crystal ball sold all their stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies at the beginning of this year. For everyone else, there haven’t been many places to hide. After last year’s tranquility, we are being reminded daily that investments can, in fact, decline in value. These periods can paralyze investors with fear, so it is a valuable exercise to step back and assess the situation objectively.

Patience is a virtue. It is natural to want to see instant progress while watching nature do its thing. We have all been guilty of squatting down to examine the soil, waiting for the first seedling to sprout. Now imagine someone who checked their garden every ten minutes for progress. It would look ridiculous.

The rogue thunderstorm blowing into this situation is the standoff between Russia and the West by way of Ukraine. I don’t pretend to be an expert in geopolitical matters, so I won’t attempt to forecast the outcome. However, plenty of investors are taking measures to protect their portfolios from any escalation on that front, which shows in the daily price moves. This isn’t the first flare-up of hostilities, and it certainly won’t be the last. Before hitting that sell button, think about all the prior occurrences and the related outcomes.

For the average American, the Federal Reserve raising interest rates has ramifications beyond the immediately visible. With the current expectations being that the Fed will likely raise its key interest rate possibly up to four times in 2022, this piece will examine the impact of higher rates.