It’s not every day that a JPMorgan analyst will recommend adding gold and cash to your portfolio. That’s happening now, and it’s another sign that Wall Street’s experts are preparing for the U.S. government to again fail to work together in the best interest of the populace.

The era of TINA, or “there is no alternative,” is officially over in 2023. For over a decade, investors were practically forced into the stock market because U.S. Treasury bonds paid next to nothing. Now, however, jacked-up interest rates might tempt you to park your cash in government debt notes.

Even as the stock market chops sideways, investors must always remember that the market is not the economy and vice versa. Reality will set in eventually, and the warning signs will only be obvious to most retail traders when the exits are already jam-packed.

By the time a trend reaches the headlines of the mainstream financial press, it probably too late for the smart money to invest in it. Yet, there are ways to gain exposure to the tech trends of today that will inform the way we work, live, and communicate for the foreseeable future.

There’s no shortage of panic-button statements from financial commentators. However, when the alarm bells are being rung by the chief executive of one of America’s biggest banks, investors are bound to sit up and pay attention.

At 92 years of age, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has as much clout as he’s ever had. Unsurprisingly, tens of thousands of shareholder waited on every word that came forth from the Oracle of Omaha at Berkshire’s 2023 annual meeting. What was surprising, however, was Buffett’s advice for investors in today’s volatile, confusing market.

Between the debt ceiling cliff approaching, recession probability rising, and U.S. banks failing, there’s no shortage of problems for depositors and investors to worry about. On top of that, we’re entering the six worst seasonal months of the year – the “sell in May and go away” period, as the old saying goes.

Two weeks ago, Warren Buffett tried to warn people that there would be more bank failures. The Treasury Department’s apologists dismissed Buffett, which is rarely a good idea. As it turns out, he was 100% spot-on as usual, as First Republic Bank collapsed before our very eyes.

The seas are tranquil in the financial markets – at least for now. Volatility in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are at their lowest point in at least a year. Complacency and greed are the prevailing sentiments, and that’s exactly why you need to be on your guard.

With the possible exception of option sellers, pretty much everyone likes it when the stock market picks a direction and sticks to it. It’s frustrating, however, when the market grinds sideways or chops around, which it has done for the past year.

Which one will you believe, the current Federal Reserve or the Secretary of the Treasury who also happens to be the previous Fed chair? The answer can’t be “neither,” unfortunately, as there either is or isn’t going to be a recession later this year.