Market Performance: February 13, 2024.

US stocks tumbled on Tuesday, falling from recent highs as investors digested a hotter-than-expected January inflation report that showed prices cooling slower than forecasts anticipated. All three major indices closed down more than 1% on the heels of the report.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell 1.4%, or around 500 points, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) saw a similar drop, after the benchmark faltered Monday in its bid to keep its historic rally above 5,000 going.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) led the day's sharp declines, closing down 1.8%.

How A Financial Planner Helped Ease My Money Anxiety

Talking about money benefits all of us — and we need to do it more. Join the conversation with Worth More, our 2024 guide to better finances, from navigating savings, debt and relationships to negotiating pay raises and, above all, investing in yourself.

Money advice is quite literally everywhere. Wherever I scroll, someone or something on the internet is telling me how to save, spend, and invest my money, and the overload of info out there is enough to make me never want to look at my banking app again. Sure, I’ve heard of financial planners, but to me, they seem like a Big Deal — only reserved for the most affluent, like people who’ve won the lottery, or have come into an enormous inheritance, or are millionaires looking to purchase a yacht. But after some holiday money panic and a creeping sensation that this is the year I need to get my shit together, I caved and tried one myself.

What I’ve learned is that financial planners aren’t just for wealthy people who are able to spend thousands of dollars (maybe even more) a year on having someone sort out their finances — it can be affordable and accessible to people across the income spectrum, if you know where to look.

Getting a financial planner is entirely up to you, your goals, and your comfortability with letting someone into your intimate financial life. While I didn’t go too deep into my monetary hopes and dreams, I really wanted to use a planner’s time to make sure that I’m currently on the best possible track for myself and my bank account.

6 best money market funds in February 2024

With interest rates higher than they’ve been in some time, savers and investors are once again able to earn decent rates of return in relatively safe investments such as money market funds. Money market funds invest in short-term securities issued by governments and corporations and are available from several different brokers and fund managers.

Investors in money market funds earn income, or a yield, from the securities that are held within the fund.

Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX)

The Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund invests in cash and short-term securities issued by the U.S. government. The fund aims to provide current income while maintaining a high level of liquidity.

JPMorgan Prime Money Market Fund (VMVXX)

The JPMorgan Prime Money Market Fund seeks to generate current income while providing a high level of liquidity and a low volatility of principal. The fund invests in short-term securities that present minimal credit risk such as U.S. government securities, floating-rate debt issued by U.S. and foreign corporations and highly-rated commercial paper.

Alternative Investing