Infographics
Financial Wellness: How to Be Resilient During a Crisis
This infographic is available as a poster.
This infographic is available as a poster.
Financial Wellness: How to Be Resilient During a Crisis
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 90% of Americans feel anxious about money. These stress levels are the same across all income groups.
Unfortunately, financially-stressed people are more likely to face physical and mental health challenges. For example, people with high debt stress during the 2008 financial crisis had higher levels of back tension, severe depression, and anxiety.
In today’s infographic from New York Life Investments, we take a look at the current state of financial health, and highlight ways people can improve their financial wellness during a crisis.
A Current Snapshot
Financial health is the degree to which people are able to be resilient and take advantage of opportunities over time. It rests on eight indicators:
- Spend: Spend less than income and pay bills on time
- Save: Have sufficient liquid savings and long-term savings
- Borrow: Have manageable debt and a prime credit score
- Plan: Have appropriate insurance and plan ahead financially
Based on these factors, individuals fall along a spectrum of financial health. In the U.S., only about 28% of people were considered to be financially healthy in a 2019 study.
Clearly, many Americans were already facing challenging circumstances prior to the pandemic. Here are a couple of the top issues.
More Complexity
Finances have become more complicated over time.
For many years, workers could rely on defined benefit pension plans that paid a set amount in retirement. In recent decades, pensions have primarily shifted to defined contribution plans. These require the employee to make investment decisions and build their own nest egg.
Unfortunately, financial education has not kept pace with the rising need for knowledge. Fewer than half of U.S. states require high school students to take a course in personal finance.
“Money Talk” Taboo
To build financial literacy, individuals would benefit from talking more openly about money. However, 44% of Americans surveyed would rather talk about religion, death, or politics than discuss personal finance with a loved one.
Fears of embarrassment and conflict are major emotional roadblocks that hamper financial progress. What can individuals do to improve their financial wellness, especially during a crisis?
Building Resiliency
People can follow a step-by-step strategy to optimize their financial situation.
- Assess their current situation.
Uncertainty can be a major source of anxiety. To identify the source of stress—and determine if it’s warranted—investors can take stock of their income, expenses, savings, and debts.
Financial self-awareness is positively associated with greater financial satisfaction, and stronger spending and investing decisions.
- Prepare for the worst-case scenario.
What can individuals do if they lose their job or see a prolonged drop in retirement savings?
Investors can consider various options, such as taking on freelance work, cutting unnecessary expenses, or increasing retirement plan contributions. Then, they can “stress test” their financial plan to account for these scenarios and begin preparing as best they can.
- Break goals into small chunks.
Specific, achievable, and measurable goals are easier to manage. For example, rather than having a goal to pay down $51,000 in debt, an individual could aim to make monthly payments of $850 over five years.
By setting smaller goals, investors can take action to make progress. Research has shown that achieving quick wins makes people more likely to achieve their financial goals.
- Improve financial knowledge and openness.
Investors can educate themselves as much as possible—people with high investment knowledge are proven to be more prepared and less anxious.
Has planned for retirement Feels anxious when thinking about personal finances Has emergency savings Low Investment Knowledge 62% 48% 78% High Investment Knowledge 73% 21% 90% People can also take steps to break financial taboos with loved ones, by starting with simple conversations about experience and building to more concrete discussions about family finances. The ability to talk about money is one of the most important skills for building financial literacy.
- Create long-term, purposeful goals.
Setting the right goals helps investors define their own parameters for success, which in turn keeps them focused and motivated. It’s also important to monitor goal progress regularly, to allow for portfolio or contribution adjustments as needed.
Taking Charge
Financial crises can strike at any point in time, whether it’s due to personal circumstances or an economic downturn.
To improve their situation, people can focus on the controllable elements of financial health: spending, saving, borrowing, and planning. This allows investors to emerge with a stronger, more resilient plan than they had before the crisis.
Infographics
How Heart Health Can Keep Your Portfolio Beating
Through thematic investing strategies lies an opportunity to invest in a long-term, powerful trend that impacts nearly one in two people: heart health
This infographic is available as a poster.
Visualizing the Big Business of Heart Health
Heart health affects almost one out of every two Americans, creating implications on both personal and economic levels. At the same time, this means that there is an opportunity for investors to get behind heart-health innovations and holistic solutions.
In this infographic from New York Life Investments, we explore this growing ecosystem and how it can benefit both the future of health and your portfolio.
Why Invest in Heart Health?
Each day, the heart beats 100,000 times—equal to a staggering 3.5 billion beats in a lifetime.
However, this crucial organ is affected by many ailments. Heart disease tops the list as the number one killer among Americans: 650,000 people in the U.S. die of heart disease annually.
In response, multiple industries from Big Tech to wellness are actively working on heart health solutions. By 2030, the cardiovascular disease tech market is projected to reach $40B, making it a growing market for investors to dive into.
Below, we explore some case studies of companies that are aligned with healthy hearts and preventative solutions.
The Fight to Detect Heart Disease
Irregular heartbeats are a key symptom of stroke and hospitalization. In fact, the most common and costly reason for preventable hospital stays is heart failure:
- 1.1M hospital stays annually
- $11.2B total annual costs
To combat this, Apple and Stanford Medicine launched the Heart Health Study to develop an algorithm that detects irregular activity.
How the Apple Heart Study app worked
- Participants wore Apple Watches that detected irregular heart rhythms, known as atrial fibrillation
- 2,161 (0.52%) were notified of irregular heart rhythms, prompted to schedule a telehealth consultation, and were sent ECG patches to wear for a week
Of these notified participants…
- 34% Experienced atrial fibrillation
- 76% Sought medical attention
Along with the algorithm’s 84% positive predictive value, the Apple Heart Health study promoted higher engagement with health services and telehealth providers. Heart health is big business, and Big Tech is only getting started.
Innovating the Tools for Living
Type 2 diabetes is another major risk factor for heart disease. To help fight against diabetes, Fitbit is at the intersection of heart health and technology with glucose monitoring.
Among the projects it has under development:
- $6 million investment in Sano, a company developing a coin-sized patch for glucose tracking
- Partnering with Dexcom to monitor how physical activity influences diabetes in a pilot program
While it’s clear that preventative tools are critical on an individual level, their impact on a community-wide scale is striking. For example, for every $1 invested in bike and walking trails, almost $3 in health costs are prevented.
Reversing the Trend: Why It’s a Good Move
A key part of preventing heart failure is to get moving—both before and after critical issues arise.
Importantly, activewear has become one of the top performing categories in fashion since quarantine took hold. As a leader in activewear, Lululemon is designing smart clothing with innovative and lightweight materials.
Another avenue they have ventured into is home fitness, with its acquisition of Mirror in July, 2020 for $500 million. Health and wellness have boomed in the age of COVID-19, and Lululemon’s shares have climbed significantly:
Price Return (2020)
- LULU: 49.6%
- S&P 500: 16.3%
- DJIA: 7.3%
It’s clear that activewear is deeply interwoven into consumer demand.
The Future of Life-Saving Strategies
The problem with heart disease is that the related costs are only intensifying.
By 2035, the direct medical costs linked to cardiovascular disease are estimated to top $748 billion, while indirect costs are projected to reach $368 billion.
But this also means that there’s a promising area of investment opportunity—with the potential for life-changing impact. As societies are hit with the twin threats of COVID-19 and aging populations, the demand for integrative heart solutions is more urgent than ever.
Infographics
What Lies Ahead: 2021 Economic Projections and the Year in Review
Are 2021 economic projections looking up? As we look back on a historic year, this graphic outlines key growth forecasts for the year ahead.
What Lies Ahead? 2021 Global Economic Projections
View the high resolution version of this infographic. Buy the poster.
With over 1.4 million deaths worldwide, COVID-19 has impacted nearly every corner of society.
Yet, hope seems suddenly near. Crucial vaccine developments are emerging, with many of the 320 vaccines in advanced trials. Still, questions remain around the timing and effectiveness of the potential vaccine. With this in mind, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that this year, global real GDP will fall –4.4%, bouncing back 5.2% in 2021.
As we look back on a historic year, this infographic from New York Life Investments traces the notable events of 2020, along with growth forecasts for the year ahead.
2020: Year in Review
From a deadly virus to U.S. elections, how did we get to where we are now?
Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, $12 trillion in global fiscal response helped stabilize the economy. Despite financial markets facing their sharpest drop in 30 years, the S&P 500 rebounded in record speed—recovering losses in under four months.
| S&P 500 Price Returns | Global COVID-19 Cases | |
|---|---|---|
| January | -1% | 27 |
| February | -9% | 11,948 |
| March | -21% | 87,091 |
| April | -11% | 883,804 |
| May | -7% | 3.23M |
| June | -5% | 6.15M |
| July | 0% | 10.48M |
| August | 7% | 17.63M |
| September | 3% | 25.57M |
| October | 0% | 34.09M |
| November | 11.7%* | 46.17M |
Source: European CDC via Our World in Data
*As of November 27, 2020
In April, oil prices dropped into negative territory for the first time ever. The combination of both a demand shock and supply shock led oil futures to fall to -$37.63. Since then, oil prices recovered modestly, hovering close to $45 in November.
In another historic event, wildfires ravaged through the West Coast of the U.S., burning five million acres across Oregon, California, and Washington. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases continued to climb. Global reported cases exceeded the 25 million mark by September.
Finally, on November 16, Moderna announced that its COVID-19 vaccine was 94.5% effective, just days after the 2020 president-elect, Joe Biden was announced.
Despite the number of record-breaking incidents over the year, the tech-dominated S&P 500 held steady. Here is how key economic figures have materialized against the backdrop of 2020:
1. Government Debt
Government debt rose 20% relative to GDP in advanced economies, while debt has grown at a slower pace in emerging market and low-income countries.
| Gross Debt Position (% of GDP) | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced economies | 105% | 125% |
| Emerging market and middle-income economies | 53% | 62% |
| Low-income developing countries | 43% | 49% |
Source: IMF
2. Inflation
Overall, inflation was lower than pre-pandemic levels, sitting at around 1.5%.
While commodities and medical supplies saw their prices rise, weak global demand for overall goods cancelled out these inflationary effects.
3. Sector Performance
Service sectors were hit among the hardest as social distancing measures were enacted to stave off the pandemic.
In the first half of 2020, accommodation, arts, and entertainment sectors fell close to 15% compared to 2019. Meanwhile, banks were cushioned with cash reserves in the event of unexpected risks, breaking roughly even in year-over-year growth.
While the economy has encountered numerous challenges, the IMF expresses cautious optimism for the year ahead.
2021: Global Growth Outlook
Since the IMF’s June projections, economic growth forecasts have somewhat improved. Primarily, optimism is being driven from Q2 GDP growth that exceeded expectations.
| Global Growth Forecasts | April | June | October |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -3.0% | -4.9% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
Source: IMF
By contrast, pre-pandemic projections for 2020 and 2021 were 3.3% and 3.4%, respectively.
Over 2020, China enacted several strict measures to contain COVID-19 early in the outbreak, a key factor behind its economic momentum. Meanwhile, India is projected to rebound 8.8%—higher than any other country in 2021, according to IMF-reported countries.
While several factors remain uncertain, what will pave the way for a global recovery?
Analysis of a Successful Global Recovery
Growth projections are improving, but economic success will hinge on these three layers.
| 3 Layers for Economic Success | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The path of COVID-19 | Public health measures & the race for a vaccine Impact on domestic economic activity |
| 2 | Global consumer demand | Tourism activity Remittance flows |
| 3 | Financial market sentiment and capital flows | Supply disruptions Policy effectiveness |
To prevent further unwanted outcomes, it will be essential that policy support is not withdrawn too soon.
The Road to Recovery
With these factors in mind, how could global conditions transform in the months ahead?
| Best Case Scenario | Worst Case Scenario |
|---|---|
| Accelerating global demand Maintaining liquidity for countries in need International cooperation Fair and equal vaccine implementation across countries | Weakened economic activity Tightening lending conditions for countries in need Protectionist measures Country-level vaccine disparities |
In the face of these obstacles, the health of the global economy rests on sufficient consumer demand, capital flows and COVID-19 containment. With news of vaccine developments underway, the outlook is appearing a bit brighter.
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