The headlines can make it feel like a market crash is always just around the corner.

So what should investors actually do?

In this week's Investment Friday, Hannah and Brad break down what history tells us about bull markets, bear markets, and why emotional investing—not market volatility—is often the greatest risk to long-term wealth.

They also discuss encouraging second-quarter earnings, why companies are becoming more profitable despite economic uncertainty, and how to build an investment strategy that lets you sleep well at night—even during market downturns.

Whether you're years away from retirement or already living off your investments, this episode will help you understand how to prepare for volatility without trying to predict it.

In this episode:

• Why the markets continue to perform despite negative headlines

• What second-quarter earnings are telling us about the economy

• The difference between an earnings bubble and an asset bubble

• Why fears of an "earnings collapse" may be overblown

• The historical reality of bull and bear markets

• Why market timing rarely works the way investors hope

• How cash reserves and income buckets reduce emotional investing

• Why your investment strategy should reflect your goals—not someone else's

Ready to work with a fiduciary CFP to build your long-term wealth strategy? Hannah is currently accepting new clients at X² Wealth Planning.

Schedule a complimentary consultation: https://calendly.com/hannahrchapman/60-minute-exploration-call

Hannah Chapman, CFP®, APMA®, CRPC® | hannah.chapman@x2wealthplanning.com | x2wealthplanning.com

What if the biggest breakthrough in your financial life isn't finding a better investment, but finally understanding why money has felt so heavy in the first place?

This week on Investment Friday, Hannah Chapman, CFP®, is joined by a special guest host, Lauren Ammon, for a behind-the-scenes look at what financial planning actually feels like.

After Lauren observed her very first X² Wealth Planning discovery meeting, the two unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about money: that people need to have all the answers before meeting with a financial planner.

The truth is that most people don't need more information. They need more clarity.

Along the way, Hannah also covers this week's market update, including encouraging inflation data, why the stock market barely reacted, and what early earnings reports from companies like Taiwan Semiconductor may be telling us about the next phase of the economy.

Learn more:

• This week's inflation (CPI) report and what it could mean for future interest rates

• Why strong corporate earnings aren't always enough to move stock prices higher

• What early earnings season is telling us about the health of the broader economy

• A behind-the-scenes look at X² Wealth Planning's financial discovery process

• Why most people feel overwhelmed by money—even when they're financially successful

• The difference between knowing your numbers and understanding your financial life

• How money stories shape the decisions we make (and avoid)

• Why financial planning should start with your vision—not a retirement calculator

Ready to work with a fiduciary CFP to build your long-term wealth strategy? Hannah is currently accepting new clients at X² Wealth Planning. Schedule a complimentary consultation: https://calendly.com/hannahrchapman/60-minute-exploration-call

Hannah Chapman, CFP®, APMA®, CRPC® | hannah.chapman@x2wealthplanning.com | x2wealthplanning.com

Receiving an inheritance, life insurance payout, business sale, or other significant windfall can feel like you've been dropped into the middle of the ocean.

There's relief, there's uncertainty, and suddenly, everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should do next.

In this week's Investment Friday, Hannah and Brad discuss why one of the biggest financial mistakes people make after a major wealth event isn't making the wrong investment—it's leaving substantial amounts of money sitting in cash for years because they're afraid to make any decision at all.

The conversation also explores the latest market update, including inflation, Federal Reserve policy, AI investing, and whether the current excitement around artificial intelligence resembles a market bubble.

Learn about:

• Market update: inflation, the Federal Reserve, and what to watch in next week's CPI and PPI reports

• Is artificial intelligence in a bubble? The current state of AI investing and why the infrastructure buildout is still in its early stages

• What to do after receiving an inheritance, life insurance payout, or other significant financial windfall

• Why leaving large amounts of money in cash can become one of the biggest long-term financial mistakes

• How inflation quietly erodes purchasing power—and why investing is often the better long-term strategy

• Dollar-cost averaging, diversification, and creating an investment plan that balances growth with peace of mind

• The emotional side of money: how grief, fear, and uncertainty influence financial decisions after major life events

Ready to work with a fiduciary CFP to build your long-term wealth strategy? Hannah is currently accepting new clients at X² Wealth Planning. Schedule a complimentary consultation: https://calendly.com/hannahrchapman/60-minute-exploration-call

Hannah Chapman, CFP®, APMA®, CRPC® | hannah.chapman@x2wealthplanning.com | x2wealthplanning.com