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The banking crisis that began in the U.S. has now spread to Europe. Recent concerns over the solvency of Credit Suisse, Switzerland's second largest "global systemically important bank" (G-SIB), were due in no small part to the runs on U.S. banks. What made Credit Suisse vulnerable was that reputational and financial difficulties had plagued it over the past decade, including problems with its financial reporting, exposure to the failed companies Archegos and Greensill, and a criminal conviction over money laundering, to name a few. At the time of writing, UBS has agreed to buy Credit Suisse in a $3 billion deal brokered by regulators, hearkening back to JPMorgan's takeover of Bear Stearns in 2008. The situation is still evolving, and in the U.S., regulators continue to monitor banks for signs of contagion.

The recent failure of three U.S. banks has raised concerns over the economy and financial system. The situation is still evolving, and there is plenty of speculation about what might come next. One recent development is that government officials from the Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC have announced that depositors will be made whole in an effort to backstop the system and restore confidence. This crisis has already created hardship for many companies and individuals as payrolls are disrupted and access to cash is halted. However, when it comes to investing, it's more important than ever to stay levelheaded and focus on the big picture. What should long-term investors know about these bank failures, and what do they reveal about the financial system?

The U.S. population, like those of many developed countries, is aging. According to the latest Census figures, a major shift occurred over the past two decades in which the share of the population under 50 declined, especially among those of prime working age. Even the youngest baby boomers are nearing retirement age, while the oldest are almost 80. And while millennials have come of age and now outnumber boomers, that hasn't been enough to prevent the average age in the U.S. from shifting from 35.4 in 2000 to 38.8 today. What could these trends mean for the economy and markets in the future?

Stock market volatility has once again picked up as recent economic data have led markets to reverse course after a strong start to the year. While investors have grown accustomed to daily swings, it's still important to remember that stock market fluctuations are unavoidable. After all, it's the willingness and ability to withstand pullbacks in the short run that allows investors to be rewarded in the long run. During periods of uncertainty, understanding the underlying trends driving markets can help investors to maintain perspective.