Featured articles
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Featured articles
Things to Do
Features
Features
Featured articles
Things to Do
Things to Do
Everything SD
Featured articles
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
Featured articles
Features
Features
Features
Featured articles
Things to Do
Food & Drink
Partner content
Ready to know more about San Diego?
SubscribeReady to know more about San Diego?
Unlock the secrets to a secure financial future with Elisabeth Dawson's insightful exploration of market volatility and its impact on retirement investments. Delve into proactive strategies, real-life scenarios, and empowering insights that go beyond conventional wisdom. Join the journey to financial resilience, and take charge of your 401k and brokerage accounts with knowledge that not only informs but motivates you to shape a prosperous retirement. Your path to financial empowerment begins here.
Picture this: your retirement dreams, meticulously planned and cherished, now facing the crumbling under the weight of unexpected challenges. In the intricate dance of financial markets, the risks are real, and the consequences are tangible. The threat of market volatility and its profound implications on your retirement investments is one that cannot be ignored.
The risks associated with market fluctuations are especially dangerous for those close to retirement or already navigating the golden years. Retirees cannot expect to maintain their lifestyle when the money they depend upon is susceptible to a sudden and steep decline based upon the whims of the stock market. The stakes are high, and the need for proactive financial planning has never been more apparent.
The Stark Reality of Market Volatility
Market volatility is not a distant concern; it’s a pulse that beats through the heart of your investments. Imagine having your 401k and other investments facing the potential of a 50% or more loss. For those nearing retirement, the implications are far-reaching. The financial plan that once seemed robust can crumble in the face of a substantial market downturn.
Reflect on your own situation: Is your current plan equipped to weather such storms? Are you confident that your assets are shielded from the unpredictable turbulence of the market?
The Consequences of Inaction
The average American’s plight is not a prophecy but a stark reality. Recent statistics reveal a sobering truth: many find themselves depleting their 401k and retirement savings within a brief span of 7 to 11 years, or sooner, due to market volatility. It’s not merely numbers on a graph; it’s the unraveling of aspirations and the erosion of financial security.
Consider a real-life scenario: a retired couple, envisioning a comfortable and relaxing retirement, now grappling with financial strain due to market downturns. The dreams of travel, leisurely pursuits, and quality time with family are jeopardized by a lack of foresight.
Ask yourself: How would I feel if my retirement dreams slipped through my fingers because the market took an unexpected turn?
Taking Control: Strategies for Financial Security
But here’s the silver lining – you have the power to shape your financial destiny. Here are some key strategies that go beyond mere survival, aiming for a future where your financial well-being is not at the mercy of market fluctuations.
Diversification and Asset Protection: Think of your portfolio as a garden. A variety of plants ensures that if one withers, the others thrive. Similarly, a diverse investment portfolio weathers market storms more effectively.
Strategically Reducing Exposure to Market Risk: Most people don’t understand the extent of the risk within the portfolio and how they will be impacted should the market decline. For this reason, you need to be aware of your risk tolerance and how your current investments align with your comfort level. It’s not about avoiding risk altogether but managing it wisely. Careful calibration of your investments to align with your financial goals is essential.
Educating Investors: In a world where markets are influenced by various factors, being informed is your best defense. Financial literacy illuminates the path to sound decision-making.
At COPIA Wealth Management and Insurance Services, our approach is rooted in pragmatism and foresight. We believe in dynamic planning, adapting to the ever-changing financial landscape, and tailoring solutions to each individual. Your unique circumstances deserve a personalized strategy that stands resilient in the face of market uncertainties.
Taking Action
As we traverse the complexities of financial planning, I invite you to take the first step toward securing your financial future. Click through to the full article for a comprehensive exploration of market volatility risks, strategies for mitigating risks, and empowering insights that could reshape your approach to retirement planning.
Your financial journey is uniquely yours, and the choices you make today will echo in the years to come. Our team is here to guide you, providing expertise and a commitment to your financial well-being.
Envision your financial future: A future where your retirement is not a time of uncertainty but a chapter of fulfillment and peace of mind. Visit www.Elisabethdawson.com to take charge of your financial narrative, and let your journey toward financial empowerment begin.
Investment advice offered through Copia Wealth Management Advisors, Inc.
Copia Wealth Management Advisors, Inc. is a registered investment advisor.
.
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Ask most people what UC San Diego is known for, and the arts may not be the first answer. Yet this fall, San Diegans can watch Ghostbusters with a live orchestra, try their hand at glassmaking and wander among more than 20 works of public art woven throughout the university’s La Jolla campus.
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.

“The arts are at the heart of UC San Diego’s student-centered mission and vision,” says Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Whether creating, participating in, or experiencing performances, the arts are essential to a healthy and truly fun Triton student experience.”
That invitation often begins where the arts intersect with other fields.
“Some of the most innovative work and discovery happen where disciplines don’t usually share a stage,” says Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities. “So through our unique intersection of the arts with science, technology, and medicine, we are improving lives, physically and emotionally.
Take The Inaudible Ocean, a collaboration between Department of Music Professor Lei Liang and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Assistant Project Scientist Josh Jones. Over eight years, the pair recorded earthquakes, ship noise, whale songs and other sounds in remote underwater locations. They transformed those recordings into a live music experience that allowed audiences to hear the ocean in an entirely new way. The work premiered on campus in May and continues to evolve.
The arts also connect the campus to the global art world and diverse perspectives. Chief Campus Curator Jessica Berlanga Taylor recently curated the Mexico Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring RojoNegro, the collective formed by Noé Martínez and María Sosa. The collective will unveil a compelling new permanent installation for UC San Diego’s celebrated Stuart Collection later this fall.

ArtPower offers another easy entry point, bringing touring performers to venues including the outdoor Epstein Family Amphitheater and the intimate Loft. The nearly three dozen performances featured through its 2026-2027 season span music, dance, film, theater and conversation.
Among the fall highlights is Ghostbusters in Concert on Sept. 25, pairing the beloved 1984 film with a live performance of Elmer Bernstein’s score. Tickets start at $35, and the amphitheater is located next to the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley station.
“Every member of our community should have access to world-class art, so we work hard to remove the barriers that stand in the way,” says Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of the Campus Performances and Events Office. “That means affordable ticket prices, and performances, voices and experiences where people see themselves reflected on stage and know they belong.”
The arts at UC San Diego are not only something to watch. The Craft Center offers public classes and workshops in ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, culinary arts and even surfboard shaping. At the new Glass Center, beginners and experienced makers can explore glassmaking through classes, demonstrations and studio experiences.
Whether you want to attend a performance, make something yourself or spend an afternoon exploring public art, there is an easy way in. And the invitation extends well beyond students and alumni.
Kollar Smith says it best: “Visit, participate, spectate or create. You’re invited, and we hope you’ll connect with us soon.”
Explore upcoming experiences at ucsd.edu/artsconnect.
Designing Retirement Income for Life with Elisabeth Dawson.
Designing Retirement Income for Life with Elisabeth Dawson.
Designing Retirement Income for Life: Episode 5 (Financial Tips for Business Owners)
Designing Retirement Income for Life: Episode 4 (Advice for Women)
Avoid These 4 Costly Social Security Mistakes

Making a mistake in claiming Social Security can cost your thousands of dollars in lost benefits. Here are the biggest mistakes to avoid so you can maximize the money you’ll receive in retirement – when you need it most. Learn how to make the best financial decisions for your situation.
Reasons Why Your Retirement Savings May Not Be Enough to Live On

Here are several key signs that your savings and investments will not be enough to fund the retirement you deserve.
Will You Run Out of Money in Retirement? Money management tips to protect against

Nothing should stand between you and the retirement you’ve worked your whole life to achieve.
How to Avoid Running Out of Money and Create the Income You Need, to Live the Way You Want

It’s time to rethink traditional financial planning. Most financial advisors want you to ride the stock market’s ups and downs because they make money, whether you do or not. Start planning now so you can use today’s money to create lifetime income in retirement.
Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
How local orthopedic specialists are pioneering the future of foot and ankle care
Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
A new program guides new moms through high-risk pregnancy and into the “fourth trimester”
Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Scripps Clinic’s Mohs surgery center is one of the most sophisticated in the country.
It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.