Investors have many different financial news outlets across various media channels to select from to get their desired news. Most investors want to be informed – and information is usually good, but it depends on what it is informing you of. How do you discern between financial resources that are beneficial for you and those that are best to avoid?
The Bias of News
As I mentioned in last month’s article, the media only survives if they can get eyeballs and clicks. They must attract attention in a very loud and busy world, and then must keep that attention. The best way to do that is to ensure their news is produced in a way that provokes hot emotions such as anger, fear, sensationalism, and hyperbole.
Is a new agency bent on provoking and attending to hot emotions beneficial for you? Those don’t sound like emotions conducive to thoughtful decision-making. Nor are they emotions that identify with a happy and high quality of life.
The Media Often Misleads
News seldom pertains to just facts, especially financial news. Facts are interspersed among personal viewpoints, spurious forecasts, and whatever else they have to say to get you to tune in.
On Sept 5, 2024, Barron’s ran the following headline:
Stock Markets Must Heed Recession Alarm Bells, It’s Not Just a September Scare
This ran on a day the markets hit all-time highs. And those highs continued throughout September. Not only do they sensationalize things; they are often quite wrong. And that’s because their job isn’t to get anything right. It is just to get you to click.
I Am Your Best Financial Resource
The media may be 24/7 and promote many tantalizing headlines, but I am your best and most reliable financial resource. Not only do I understand your unique situation, your goals, your plan – I also have your best interest at heart.
Please reach out with questions about what you read or hear. If the news has you concerned – contact me. I am your best financial resource no matter what is going on. That is an honor and a privilege for which I am very grateful for.
– Tiffany
