“50% of small businesses close.”

How many times have you read some variation of this headline, or heard that number thrown around in casual conversation? You might have even used this “conventional wisdom” to talk yourself out of starting your own company. Fifty percent makes it sounds like your odds of success are on par with flipping a coin and guessing heads or tails.

But that’s the tricky thing about numbers: taken out of context, they can be deceiving.

Let’s dig into that 50% a little deeper and ask, “Why do half of small businesses close?”

According to the Small Business Administration, the number one reason, yes, is a lack of revenue.

Number two? The owner retires.

Number three? The owner sells the company.

So, two of the top three reasons that most small businesses close aren’t necessarily negative! They might even represent a lifetime of fulfilling work leading to a profitable exit for the business owner!

Recently, you might have come across some big numbers related to our economy that have you nervous about your nest egg. On today’s show, we dig into those numbers as well to separate the facts from the hype.

In March of 2009, the markets bottomed out in the aftermath of the housing crisis and bank collapses. Gigantic financial institutions teetered on bankruptcy and scrambled for government support. Millions of ordinary folks lost their homes or their jobs, and all saw their retirement savings decline in value. In the moment, it was hard to imagine how our economy would get back to normal.

And yet, 10 years later, despite some ongoing volatility, the economy is once again trending positive. On today’s show, we talk about what the bottom of the financial crisis looked like, how the markets turned around, and the lessons that are most important to you, an investor preparing for or in retirement.