Among others, hot topics in 2023 include but are not limited to a looming recession, the Banking Crisis, and a new war in the Middle East. 2024 will come with its own worries and headlines, but It’s important not to let your emotions get the better of you for your financial decisions.

Usually important headlines and events are delivered straight to your phone’s notification centre — urging you to click on them to read more. But the media, no matter how learned and talented, is not always right, nor has it the ability to definitively predict the future.

With greater access to technology equipping yourself with a few apps, real-time news, and data feeds can make you feel like a pro-trader. Does keeping up to date with everything that’s happening around the world give you an edge in investing?

Why doesn't the media run more good news? One view is that bad news sells. The danger comes when the emotions generated by bad news prompt investors to make changes to their portfolios.

Wherever you are in your investing journey, at some point you’ll likely ask yourself some of the questions below. Listening to friends, family or the financial media is not the best way to get the right answers.