Hey Tim: If the economy is struggling, why is the stock market at an all-time high?

I get this question a lot—and I understand why. It feels disorienting to hear friends talk about how tough things are, while the news celebrates record highs in the stock market. How can both be true?

The first thing to know is that Bay Street and Main Street are not the same. The stock market tells the story of investors. It doesn’t tell the story of everyday people trying to pay rent, keep up with groceries, or dig themselves out of student debt.

I remember back in 2008, when the financial crisis hit. Regular people lost jobs, homes, and savings. Yet governments stepped in to bail out the banks and big corporations. Investors were protected while ordinary families struggled. Fast forward to COVID, and we saw the same thing: businesses and asset owners were shielded, while many households carried the heaviest burden and homelessness skyrocketed.

This created what economists call a K-shaped recovery. For people who own assets—stocks, bonds, real estate—the recovery has been fantastic. Their wealth has grown at an astonishing pace. For those without assets, or worse, those weighed down by debt, the story is very different. Costs have gone up, wages haven’t kept pace, and it feels harder than ever just to keep your head above water.

We often talk about income inequality, but the deeper problem is wealth inequality. Owning assets means your money works for you. Without them, you’re stuck working harder and harder just to keep up with inflation. It’s like being on a treadmill that speeds up every year. You’re sweating and straining, while others are sitting comfortably on the sidelines, watching their investments grow.

So what do we do? We focus on what we can control. Start small, but start. Buy that first asset—maybe a community bond, maybe an ‘all-in-one’ sustainable ETF. It doesn’t have to be a lot. The important thing is shifting from running endlessly on the treadmill to owning something that can start working for you.

That’s why I created the Good Investing Classroom. It’s a space to learn, to ask questions without judgment, and to take steps toward becoming an asset owner in ways that align with your values. You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to start big. But the sooner you begin, the sooner you give yourself the chance to step off that treadmill.

I know, I know. Capitalism feels icky and gross, but taking control of your money and putting it to work in a way that aligns with your values is a critical step in achieving financial freedom for your family.

Join us in the Classroom—your future self will thank you.

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