Saying goodbye to April shouldn't be difficult this year after yesterday's downbeat session in the stock market. This was the first month of negative returns for the stock market since October of last year. The stock market slump may come as a surprise as markets digested stronger-than-expected corporate earnings from the first quarter.

2023 was a year that defied expectations, showcasing the unpredictable nature of financial markets and the power of innovation in technology. Who would have expected the US stock market to rise 25% last year? Especially while navigating through aggressive monetary policy and the failure of some prominent banks in the spring.