Sound Advice

Do you really need vitamin supplements? Usually, no —most healthy adults who eat a reasonably balanced diet do not need vitamin supplements, and studies have not shown broad benefits from routine multivitamins for preventing heart disease, cancer, memory decline or early death. Supplements are most useful when there is a real need, such as a proven deficiency, a restricted diet, pregnancy or certain medical conditions that affect absorption. When supplements make sense A blood test shows a deficiency, such as vitamin B12 or vitamin D. You are pregnant or trying to conceive; folic acid is the big exception because it helps prevent neural tube defects. You have a condition that limits absorption, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or bariatric surgery. You follow a very limited diet, such as veganism, where B12 is commonly needed. Why food usually wins Food gives you vitamins along with fiber, protein, and other compounds that pill...

Why you must read the fine print for drug commercials on TV You must read the fine print in TV drug commercials because the ad’s main message can sound much simpler than the real risks, limits, and conditions. Prescription drug ads are required to disclose major side effects and other important safety information, and those disclosures can be hard to absorb when they are delivered quickly or in small text. Why it matters The commercial may highlight benefits while the fine print reveals serious side effects, warnings or people who should not use the drug. The ad can make a medicine sound right for your situation even though only a doctor or pharmacist can tell whether it fits your health history. Some disclosures are there to balance the claims in the ad, so the details matter just as much as the headline. What to watch for Common and serious side effects. Drug interactions with medicines you already take. Who should avoid the drug, inclu...

What are the key risks of today's high stock market? The main risks in today’s high stock market are stretched valuations, heavy concentration in a few mega-cap winners, and a market that looks vulnerable if earnings or growth disappoint.   Inflation, higher-for-longer rates, geopolitical shocks, and credit stress are the other big factors that could trigger a correction. Valuation risk Stocks are expensive relative to history, which means there is less room for error.  Fidelity notes the S&P 500 has been trading at a meaningfully higher P/E multiple than its long-term average, and that elevated valuations can amplify downside if earnings do not keep up. Concentration risk A large share of market gains has come from a small group of mega-cap tech names.  That can make the whole index more fragile, because weakness in a few dominant stocks can drag the broader market lower. Inflation and rates If inflation stays sticky, the Fed may have less room to cut r...