Building an emergency fund is one of the smartest financial moves you can make to start the year strong. A solid cash cushion helps protect you from unexpected expenses and keeps short-term surprises from turning into long-term financial problems.

Recent volatility in the S&P 500 has led many investors to question whether the market is weakening. A closer look tells a different story. This one-month view of SPY highlights a coiling market, where price is consolidating after strength and volatility is compressing near recent highs. Understanding what this type of market behavior signals can help long-term investors stay disciplined, avoid emotional decisions, and remain aligned with their broader investment strategy.

China’s new trade measures and Trump’s tariff threats have reignited global market volatility. With supply chains shifting, commodities tightening, and U.S. industrial policy in focus, investors who position strategically in energy, infrastructure, and technology can turn this geopolitical friction into long-term opportunity.