When you consider how sharply stocks declined early in 2018 and how many problems still appear to be lurking around the world, the peaceful state of financial markets over the last few months has been nothing short of remarkable.

The second quarter wasn’t spectacular for stocks in the United States, but it produced solid returns with relatively little volatility. Stocks elsewhere around the world didn’t fare quite as well and the bond market gave up ground, but for the most part, investors had some very welcome breathing room.

Still, it’s a good bet that difficult times will return to financial markets at some point, so this may be good moment to prepare for a future shock. In our quarterly report on investing, we’ve analyzed one time-tested approach: the balanced fund.

Our survey includes articles with reporting on where the markets have been and analysis that suggests where they may be heading. Our selection also provides an introduction to investing. And we hope that at least some of these articles will entertain you as well.