Author: Russ Wiles, Arizona Republic

Many people invest rationally most of the time, until the stock market starts falling. Follow these recommendations to keep downturns in perspective.

Selling stocks, mutual funds and other investments shouldn’t be done as a knee-jerk reaction. There are many tax and other factors to consider.

Nobody likes to see their account drop 4% or 5%, perhaps more, just a day or two after they put a big chunk of cash to work

Health outbreaks have pushed down stock prices before, but such scares don’t exert a permanent impact.

For some taxpayers, returns have become easier to prepare and file but various problems linger, including with the Internal Revenue Service.

A new federal law has been hailed for its retirement savings reforms. But while it makes tweaks to IRAs, it probably won’t make them more popular.

“It has become an enormous challenge trying to comply with the different state requirements,” a small-business owner in Arizona said.

The economy looks like it’s in good shape heading into 2020. But what might go wrong? These are some contrarian and negative signs to beware of.

From debt to lending to taxes and more, this is how you can know whether you are making progress or falling behind in your finances.