What Really Moves the Stock Market?

Video transcript:

You ever check your 401(k) and think, “What the heck happened today?”

Let’s talk about what actually moves the stock market — it's a mix of math and emotion. Here are the big levers:

Earnings – When companies make more money than expected, stocks usually go up. Miss the mark? They drop.

Interest Rates – If the Fed raises rates, borrowing gets more expensive. That can slow growth and scare investors.

Inflation – High inflation = higher costs = lower profits. Investors don’t love that.

Jobs Reports & Consumer Spending – The market wants to see a strong economy, but not too strong — it’s a weird dance.

Emotions – Fear, greed, headlines, elections… yep, they all cause swings. Humans run the market, after all.

So when your account seems like it’s bouncing around a lot, remember there are plenty of factors out of our hands.

But when you have a solid financial plan in place, it's easier to weather the storms or adapt when necessary.