Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: Zoom, Starbucks, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="For Immediate Release ” data-reactid=”19″>For Immediate Release

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Chicago, IL – May 15, 2020 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Features: Zoom ZM, Starbucks SBUX, Microsoft MSFT, Amazon AMZN and&nbsp;Facebook FB.” data-reactid=”20″>Chicago, IL – May 15, 2020 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Features: Zoom ZM, Starbucks SBUX, Microsoft MSFT, Amazon AMZN and Facebook FB.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Coronavirus: How to Protect Your Personal Finances” data-reactid=”21″>Coronavirus: How to Protect Your Personal Finances

It’s week *insert shoulder shrug emoji here* of quarantine, and we’re all still chugging along, working from home, jumping on Zoom calls, baking banana bread, watching a lot of television, and just trying to get by.

While our “new normal” is beginning to feel less and less strange, there’s still an incredible amount of uncertainty, about our jobs, our health, and our future.

Because of this, reviewing your personal finances is now more important than ever.

To avoid going into panicked, stressed-out mode, start by figuring out your net worth. Calculate how much cash you have on hand, what’s in your investment portfolio(s), and your current debt load.

By laying everything out on the table, from what you owe to how much money you’re able to bring in, you’ll be able to start to feel a little more in control.

Another key step: start, or add to, an emergency savings fund.

Despite the allure of online shopping, you may have found it easier to save your money, since bars, retail shops, restaurants, and movie theaters are all still temporarily shuttered. Taking what you would have spent on dinner and a movie, for example, and putting it right into your piggy bank is a simple way to build up your fund.

But if you really want to ramp up your savings, write down all of the things you think you’ll be able to live without for the next couple of months, like your morning Starbucks run or new summer clothes.

The more luxuries or non-essential items you can cut from your budget, the more you’ll be able to easily save and the bigger (and quicker) your emergency fund will grow.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Protecting Your Investment Portfolio” data-reactid=”31″>Protecting Your Investment Portfolio

The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has hit the U.S. economy hard. Even though big tech stocks like Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook have helped drive the major indexes higher, the underlying economic data continues to be pretty dismal.

One of the simplest ways to protect your investment portfolio in a volatile climate is diversification.

Portfolio diversity does not just mean owning five stocks from five different sectors. It also means complementing stocks with bonds, real estate investments, hard assets and/or cash investments.

The more diversified a portfolio is, the less vulnerable it is to broader macroeconomic events.

Additionally, avoiding high beta stocks and sectors and favoring those that pay dividends can help your portfolio thrive during a downturn.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Do You Ever Cash Out?” data-reactid=”37″>Do You Ever Cash Out?

Moving your entire portfolio to cash is a thought that may have crossed your mind since the market meltdown back in February.

While most advisors will tell you to not do that, there is a scenario that you could consider if you are toying with the idea:

If you are in a place where you don’t need to take on any more risk and you have all the money you’ll need for a good retirement, then moving to cash makes sense.

But that’s a very rare situation.

Overall, the amount of cash you should hold in your portfolio depends on what type of investor you are and where you are in your investment journey.

For younger investors, there’s a good chance you can recover from any losses you experience now—history has shown that the market has risen after a downtown, surpassing past highs.

For retirees, it’s a bit different. Financial advisors usually recommend having more cash on hand, but still keeping two to three years’ worth of investments you can rely on as part of your income.

Something to always keep in mind, though, if you are thinking about or are tempted to cash out a portion of your portfolio is when you would you get back into the market. Timing the stock market is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, and you may miss out on dividend payments if you own stocks that pay those nice quarterly distributions.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Final Thoughts” data-reactid=”46″>Final Thoughts

Economic volatility is a good time for you to both reevaluate your personal finances and your investment risk tolerance.

But always remember: reducing your exposure to risk is never a bad thing. You just have to figure out what is best for you and your investment horizon.

<p class="canvas-atom canvas-text Mb(1.0em) Mb(0)–sm Mt(0.8em)–sm" type="text" content="Zacks’ Single Best Pick to Double ” data-reactid=”49″>Zacks’ Single Best Pick to Double