5 reasons why investors are nervous now

By Lauren Young

NEW YORK, Feb 6 (Reuters) - (This was originally published in the On The Money newsletter, where we share U.S. personal finance tips and insights every other week. Sign up here to receive it for free.)

Hang onto your hats, On the Money readers!

Gold is soaring, software stocks are crashing amid AI concerns, inflation is heating up, Bitcoin is tumbling and consumer confidence is plummeting.

These are just five reasons why investors are nervous now, but I'm sure there are many more. What are your ?biggest money fears? I'd love to hear from you, so please reach out to me with comments via my email at the bottom of this article. You can also follow me on ?LinkedIn.

BEHIND WASHINGTON'S AFFORDABILITY PUSH With an eye on the U.S. midterm elections, the Trump administration is busy offering solutions to affordability, which is the ?key financial issue for Americans right now. This July the administration will launch "Trump Accounts" - tax-advantaged investment accounts designed ?to boost the savings of U.S. ?citizens under the age of 18. We got an update in late January that more than 500,000 families have signed up for the program. Also new: Employers are offering matching funds ?to workers as an incentive. Another proposal would allow retirement savers to tap their savings ?to make a down payment on a home, but that sounds like it may have been a trial balloon. Experts say it is unlikely to happen, especially since the president is "not a huge fan."

What are your thoughts on ?these initiatives to help Americans build wealth?

IS PET INSURANCE WORTH IT?

A reader ?reached out to ?me wondering if she should get coverage for a new Bernedoodle puppy. The experts I interviewed say it certainly comes in handy for emergency care, chronic issues and pricey dental procedures. But when I shared this article on social media, the comments started rolling ?in. Who knew that pet insurance could be such a polarizing topic?

Tell me about your experience with pet insurance by emailing me. Add your pet pix! And if you have an insurer to recommend, please provide that info, too.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

As software stocks slump, investors debate AI's existential threat

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Private markets for retail savers will not end well

Climber Alex Honnold on finding joy beyond fear

Amazon's physical grocery push deepens its fight against rival Walmart (WMT)

Tips for lowering your credit card interest rate

Cash bonus or ?more vacation time: ?Which do you choose - and why?

Airlines win challenge to appeals court ruling on consumer fee disclosures

The new tax rules that can get you a bigger refund this year

How one Gen Zer cut drinking and reinvested the money into himself

A career-focused millennial ?shares the steps he's taking to grow in his career

President Trump's pick to run the Fed says it needs "regime change"

HOW A COUPLE SPLITS THEIR EXPENSES FAIRLY - AND IT'S NOT 50/50 While studies in the U.S. and the U.K. show that many young couples continue to split shared bills 50/50, it's no longer the only model: proportional, income-based splits are widely seen by personal finance experts as the fair solution, especially when partners earn different amounts.

Scott Bishop, the managing director and partner of Presidio Wealth Partners in Houston, Texas, says fair doesn't always mean equal when it comes to finances.

"I see couples run into trouble when expenses are split informally - one pays ?rent; the other covers groceries - because those costs fluctuate and resentment builds quietly," he tells Reuters. "Over time, one person inevitably feels like they're carrying more, even if that was never the intent. For many couples, especially early on, a clean structure works best." Here is how one young couple manages their finances with separate accounts.

We are looking for folks to profile! Have ?a money lesson or story to share? Tell us what worked for you - or what didn't - by emailing us.

(By Lauren Young; Editing by Mark Porter)