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Author: Vishesh Raisinghani

  • Prof G warns America is creating dynasties of ‘unproductive young rich people’ — but they’re not very happy and that’s ‘good news’ to him. Here’s why and his $10,000,000 solution

    Prof G warns America is creating dynasties of ‘unproductive young rich people’ — but they’re not very happy and that’s ‘good news’ to him. Here’s why and his $10,000,000 solution

    The Great Wealth Transfer currently underway isn’t a solution for wealth inequality.

    Instead, it’s likely to fuel a rising “dynasty” of young people with too much money and too little motivation to work, according to NYU professor Scott Galloway.

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    “When you go to nice hotels, there are people in their 50s and 60s and you can tell it’s probably their money — and then there’s a whole raft of a younger generation with their parents’ credit cards,” says the entrepreneur and investor on a recent episode of his Prof G podcast. “What you have with dynastic wealth is you’re taking capital that should go back into the ecosystem and just creating these dynasties of unproductive, rich people.”

    There are growing signs that the wealth gap could worsen as the transfer of assets from baby boomers to their children and grandchildren gains momentum.

    However, Galloway believes there is some “good news” for younger Americans from modest-income families and a potential solution to the problem.

    The good news

    Baby boomers in America are expected to pass on between $70 trillion and $90 trillion in assets to their offspring, according to Cerulli Associates.

    “The average age of the world’s billionaires is almost 69 right now. So this whole transition or wealth handover will start to accelerate,” said John Mathews, head of UBS’ Private Wealth Management division, in an interview with CNBC.

    However, this massive wealth transfer isn’t distributed evenly across younger generations. A 2023 study published in the American Journal of Sociology found that the average 35-year-old millennial holds less wealth than the average boomer at the same age, but the top 10% of wealthiest millennials have 20% more wealth than the top 10% of boomers.

    In other words, a growing intergenerational wealth divide emerging, and it’s likely to accelerate in the coming years.

    However, Galloway says his time teaching at an Ivy League university has given him reason to be hopeful: “I know a lot of rich kids and I know a lot of kids who are not rich — and the levels of happiness are not greater among the rich kids.”

    To him, that’s “good news” for young people trying to build wealth independently and find fulfilling careers. It’s also a wake-up call for policymakers looking to tackle the growing wealth gap.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    The $10 million solution

    Galloway’s proposed fix for the widening wealth gap is what he calls “an exceptional inheritance tax.”

    “Inheriting more than say $10 million bucks doesn’t increase the happiness of your kids,” he says, suggesting that lawmakers implement a significant inheritance tax above that threshold.

    His recommendation isn’t far off from the current tax structure. For the 2025 tax year, estates worth more than $13.99 million are subject to a federal estate tax, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

    The tax rate ranges from 18% to 40%, depending on the estate’s size, according to SmartAsset. Beneficiaries may also face additional estate and inheritance taxes on the state level, depending on where they live.

    Still, there may be room to raise those rates. Japan currently has the highest inheritance tax in the developed world at 55%, followed by South Korea at 50%, according to PwC.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Cam Newton says this is the #1 reason rich athletes go broke — explains he no longer makes $20M/year in 2025, but still pays for lavish lifestyle, child support, lawn care, HOA dues

    Cam Newton says this is the #1 reason rich athletes go broke — explains he no longer makes $20M/year in 2025, but still pays for lavish lifestyle, child support, lawn care, HOA dues

    At the height of his career, Cam Newton, former NFL MVP and Carolina Panthers quarterback, says he was earning roughly $20 million a year. However, in a recent video on his YouTube channel, Newton confessed that he was making online content “to keep the lights on.”

    Newton’s candid admission pulls back the curtain on a common struggle retired athletes face: managing money once the big paychecks stop.

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    He points to his own situation as “the No. 1 reason” why so many wealthy players end up broke — their failure to scale back spending when their income takes a hit.

    Here’s how untamed expenses can gobble up even eight-figure salaries.

    Lifestyle creep

    Unlike the stereotypical professional athlete, Newton insists he did a better job managing his money while his career was still active.

    “I never really had a financial advisor, but I never really was a splurger either — still to this day,” the 36-year-old says.

    Although federal and state income taxes reduced his take-home pay to roughly $12 million a year, Newton estimates his annual expenses were between $5 and $6 million — leaving some room for savings and investments.

    However, he says many athletes fail to acknowledge the fact that their income is temporary, while their lifestyle is permanent.

    Although he’s no longer making eight figures a year, he says his expenses have stayed more or less the same, with private schools, home maintenance, alimony and luxury purchases draining his savings.

    “Those things never leave,” he says. “Your overhead never really changes. Your income changes, but your expenses have to change with it.”

    Unfortunately, most Americans expect their expenses to change more than their income. According to the latest Survey of Consumer Expectations from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, consumers expect their household income to rise just 2.7% in the year ahead, while expenses are expected to rise 5%.

    This rapid lifestyle inflation is one of the key reasons why even high-income families are struggling financially. Roughly 36% of consumers who earned $200,000 or more a year were living paycheck to paycheck, according to a PYMNTS survey. Meanwhile, a Bankrate survey found that 13% of American consumers had no emergency savings and 1 in 3 had more credit card debt than emergency savings.

    Simply put, most people are vulnerable to a sudden income shock. They’re just a couple missed paychecks away from being broke. The only way to avoid this trap is to keep a tight lid on expenses, according to Newton.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    Limiting expenses

    Avoiding lifestyle inflation and keeping expenses as low as possible is the key to financial security, according to Newton.

    “You can live a couple years like a king or, with the right money decisions, you can live the rest of your life like a prince,” he says.

    A great way to live within your means is to buy a house that is well within your budget. Nearly 11% of homebuyers exceeded their budget while purchasing their home, according to Clever Real Estate, while 39% exceeded their budget for upfront costs. By avoiding this, you can reduce a major recurring expense for your household.

    Another lifestyle adjustment to help live within your means is to switch from credit cards and debt to cash and debit cards. Nearly 31% of American consumers are expected to go into debt to finance their discretionary spending on vacations, dining out and live entertainment this year, according to Bankrate.

    If you can’t afford those concert tickets or Euro trip, skip it instead of financing it with debt.

    “I’ve always learned it’s better to be able to afford it and not have it, rather than to have it and not afford it,” Newton says.

    These adjustments can limit your lifestyle inflation and help keep you better prepared for a sudden income shock.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • This young US teacher just quit with a serious warning to America — says kids ‘can’t even read’ and she’s lost ‘faith’ in some of them. Here’s the 1 big thing crippling her classroom

    A 10th-grade English teacher is walking away from the classroom — and lighting up social media on her way out. Hannah Maria, a 20-something former educator, says she’s quitting because of a sharp drop in literacy and bad behavior in her classroom.

    “I really don’t have a lot of faith in some of these kids that I teach,” she said in a TikTok video circulating on X.

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    Her emotional announcement has since gone viral — even though her account is now private, the video has roughly 7 million views.

    According to her, kids in her class can’t sit still, have diminished attention spans and can barely read or write. And the biggest factor contributing to this decline in learning ability and behavior, she believes, is their excessive reliance on technology.

    “Technology is directly contributing to the literacy decrease we are seeing in this country right now,” Maria said in her post.

    Here’s why she believes the problem could get worse if lawmakers, regulators and school boards don’t step in right away.

    AI-driven literacy crisis

    The overreliance on AI-enabled devices has become a crutch that most students can’t do without, according to Maria.

    “A lot of these kids don’t know how to read because they’ve had things read to them or they can click a button and have things read out loud to them in seconds,” she explained. “Their attention spans are weaning because everything is high-stimulation and they can just scroll [away from something] in less than a minute. They can’t sit still for very long.”

    Annual reading and math skill assessments by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) seem to confirm her observation. Average scores have declined 7 points in reading and 14 points in mathematics over the past decade.

    Younger kids are struggling too. Less than half (47%) of kindergarten students were able to read at grade level during the 2021 to 2022 school year, according to Real Clear Education.

    School-aged children may be struggling with reading because they’re not practicing as much as they used to. According to Steam Ahead’s analysis of National Assessment of Educational Progress data, only 17% of 13-year-olds reported reading for fun almost daily — the lowest rate since 1984.

    Instead, children find screen time more engaging and enjoyable. A study published in the JAMA Pediatrics medical journal found that adolescents aged 13 to 18 years spend 8.5 hours daily on average using screen-based media.

    This tech addiction is leaving many young Americans unprepared for life outside school, according to Maria.

    “I understand that the world is going in a direction where AI is going to be more prevalent, even in the workforce someday,” she said. “That still doesn’t take away [from the fact that] these are basic skills you need to survive.”

    She calls on regulators and school boards to step in and solve the issue before it’s too late.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    Rethinking education

    Maria’s recommended solution for the problem is to “cut off technology from these kids, probably until they go to college.”

    More than a third of U.S. adults seem to share Maria’s view that the use of AI has “very or somewhat negative” impacts on the K12 education system, according to a 2023 YouGov poll.

    However, most adults are not in favor of restrictions or an outright ban. Only 24% of U.S. adults said students should be prevented from using AI while 52% said schools should teach children how to use AI appropriately.

    Nevertheless, if AI tools become more potent and pervasive while literacy rates continue to drop, teachers, regulators and parents may have to rethink the way they educate the next generation.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Bitcoin soared 152% in a year (getting thumbs up from Elon Musk) —so why does Bill Gates say it’s a trap for smart people who aren’t billionaires?

    Bitcoin soared 152% in a year (getting thumbs up from Elon Musk) —so why does Bill Gates say it’s a trap for smart people who aren’t billionaires?

    Bill Gates is widely known as the billionaire who co-founded Microsoft, but one of the other factors that has contributed to his wealth is his pragmatic, relatively-conservative investment strategy.

    For example, take the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust portfolio. Its investments include stakes in railways, waste management and fast food restaurants, which are considered relatively low-risk investments compared to other offerings. Gates is also the owner of nearly 270,000 acres of farmland across the U.S., according to The Associated Press.

    However, one asset class that you won’t find in his well-diversified portfolio is cryptocurrency. In fact, the billionaire has long been a vocal critic of digital currencies.

    "There are people with high I.Q.s who have fooled themselves on that one," the 69-year-old shared with The New York Times in a recent interview.

    Here’s why the tech entrepreneur isn’t a fan of this digital asset class.

    Crypto is too risky

    Gates’ skepticism of Bitcoin and other crypto assets isn’t a recent phenomenon. Back in 2021, the tech billionaire said he wasn’t a fan of the asset because of its volatility.

    “I do think that people get bought into these manias who maybe don’t have as much money to spare. So I’m not bullish on Bitcoin,” Gates shared with Bloomberg. He suggested that the unpredictable fluctuations in Bitcoin’s market price made it a better fit for those who were already financially secure, such as fellow billionaire Elon Musk.

    “Elon has tons of money and he’s very sophisticated so I don’t worry that his Bitcoin will randomly go up or down,” Gates added. “My general thought would be that if you have less money than Elon then you should probably watch out.”

    According to BlackRock’s calculations, Bitcoin is 3.9 and 4.6 times more volatile than gold and global equities, respectively. This volatility is clear to anyone who has seen a recent price chart of the asset — each Bitcoin traded at just USD$42,000 at the start of 2024 before hitting USD$106,000 by December, and then dropping back to USD$85,000 as of February, 2025.

    For some, these wild ups and downs suggest the crypto asset class is still speculative, which makes it unsuitable for risk-averse investors. However, for someone with an appetite for risk, there is a way to add cryptocurrency exposure without compromising your overall portfolio.

    Small speculative bets

    Not all wealthy investors are as cautious as Gates, but even the most adventurous ones understand the need for a strategic approach with robust guardrails for their risky ventures.

    Billionaire Mark Cuban, for instance, has been a fan of cryptocurrencies for several years. In 2017, he shared his approach to high-risk bets with Vanity Fair. “If you’re a true adventurer and you really want to throw the Hail Mary, you might take 10% and put it in Bitcoin or Ethereum,” he said. “But if you do that you’ve got to pretend you’ve already lost your money.”

    Since the value of Bitcoin is up 1,300% since that interview aired, the potential upside may have justified the risk of losing 10% of your portfolio.

    Musk seems to have taken a similar approach. As of 2025, there are 11,509 BTC on Tesla’s balance sheet collectively worth less than USD$1 billion — a fraction of the company’s market capitalization and Musk’s personal net worth.

    With this in mind, investors with an appetite for risk and sizable investments in other secure assets can consider putting a small fraction of their portfolio in relatively risky (but fun) assets like cryptocurrencies.

    Sources

    1. DATAROMA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (Dec 31, 2024)

    2. The Associated Press: Bill Gates owns a lot of American farmland, but not the majority by Philip Marcelo (May 2, 2022)

    3. Daily Mail: Bill Gates’ withering assessment on wildly popular investment: ‘People with high IQs have fooled themselves’ by Tilly Armstrong (Feb 3, 2025)

    4. Indy100: Bill Gates urges people not to make one hugely popular investment by Sinead Butler (Feb 4, 2025)

    5. iShares: Bitcoin volatility guide: Trends & insights for investors by Jay Jacobs (July 11, 2024)

    6. CoinMarketCap: Bitcoin price today

    7. YouTube: Mark Cuban’s Guide to Getting Rich | Vanity Fair (Oct 8, 2017)

    8. Bitcoin Treasuries: Bitcoin Treasuries

    This article Bill Gates claims ‘people with high IQs’ have ‘fooled themselves’ with this 1 wildly popular investment — says Elon Musk can handle it, but too risky if you’re not rich. Do you own it?originally appeared on Money.ca

    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Here are the top 5 states in America most impacted by Trump’s new Social Security rule — do you live in one of them?

    Here are the top 5 states in America most impacted by Trump’s new Social Security rule — do you live in one of them?

    As the changes to Social Security continue, some older Americans may find themselves having to play catch-up.

    In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to stop issuing paper checks by September 30 and instead use direct deposit, prepaid cards or other digital payment options.

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    This move might seem inconsequential, but it impacts nearly half a million seniors nationwide. While the White House is determined to modernize the system, many retirees have yet to fully adopt new technologies, putting them at risk of missing essential benefits.

    According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), 485,766 beneficiaries received their monthly Social Security payments via physical check in April.

    With that in mind, here are the top five states where seniors are most exposed to this sudden change.

    Where the end of paper checks will be felt most

    There isn’t a state in the union that doesn’t have someone who still receives their benefits via the post. However, some states expect to weather the change better than others.

    For instance, in the District of Columbia, only 789 retirees received physical checks for Social Security in April. In North Dakota and Wyoming, that number is less than 940. Most seniors who rely on a more traditional form of payment live in one of the largest states or overseas territories.

    In U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, approximately 6,785 individuals still receive their Social Security benefits through physical checks each month, rather than through direct deposit.

    Among the 50 states, California stands out with the highest number of residents still relying on paper checks for their monthly Social Security payments — exactly 51,649 people. Texas is a distant second with 35,504 recipients, while New York ranks third with 30,676 individuals.

    Despite the widespread push toward digital payments, tens of thousands of Americans remain dependent on traditional check delivery. Florida, often regarded as a top retirement destination for older Americans, is home to many seniors who still receive paper checks. According to SSA data, 30,016 Floridians continue to have their monthly payments delivered by mail.

    Finally, Ohio rounds out the top 5 with 19,769 Americans still preferring paper to digital payments.

    Still, many of these seniors may struggle to pivot to the Trump administration’s change in policy to online payments.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    Barriers to modernization

    According to 2024 data from the Pew Research Center, roughly 10% of U.S. adults over 65 do not have an internet connection, which places them at a disadvantage.

    Although Trump’s executive order offers an exemption for individuals who do not have access to banking services or electronic payment systems, many seniors may not qualify for this exemption before the September deadline.

    Recent cuts to the SSA have seen field offices shuttered and staff reduced. That means beneficiaries who do not have internet or have mobility issues may have trouble connecting to the agency in person or by phone.

    Those impacted by the policy change are encouraged to call or visit the SSA to ensure their benefit payments are not disrupted.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘This is a tragedy’: Mark Carney warns the 80-year period of US economic leadership ‘is over’ — says America is no longer the anchor of global trade. Here’s how to survive the ‘new reality’

    Trump’s “Liberation Day” may be the first step in America’s exit from its role as the world’s economic anchor and trusted trade ally. That’s according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who didn’t hold back in a press conference shortly after reciprocal tariffs on U.S. autos were announced.

    “The system of global trade anchored on the United States … is over,” Carney said during the announcement. “The 80-year period when the United States embraced the mantle of global economic leadership … is over. While this is a tragedy, it is also the new reality.”

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    As the former head of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, and an Oxford-Harvard trained economist, Carney certainly has the experience needed to help Canada navigate this new reality. But his stern warning is rippling far beyond Canadian borders.

    According to the BBC, world leaders, including EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, say the ongoing trade war will have “dire” consequences for millions of people across the world and undermine the global trading system.

    Here’s why the chorus of concern continues to expand and how you can prepare for what’s to come.

    The world’s largest buyer

    The U.S. isn’t just the largest economy in the world, it’s also the largest consumer of goods and services.

    In 2023 alone, the U.S. imported goods worth $3.17 trillion in aggregate, according to Visual Capitalist’s coverage of World Trade Organization data. China, the second-largest economy in the world, is a net exporter, according to the Financial Times.

    As a result, the global economy heavily relies on American consumption, and any trade barriers, such as tariffs or embargoes, could have severe consequences for nearly every country.

    This is why Carney is warning that the Trump tariff policy could “rupture the global economy.”

    There are signals validating this thesis too. For example, global stock markets have shed $9.5 trillion in total value since early April, according to The Street. And though JPMorgan’s probability forecast for a U.S. recession this year dropped to 40%, it’s still on the table.

    However, this isn’t the first time the world has faced an economic calamity, and there are ways you can prepare your finances for a tough road ahead.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    Safe havens

    There’s no way to predict what the economy could look like a few months from now. But there are ways to protect your wealth and household budget right away.

    Recessions usually coincide with a sharp surge in layoffs and unemployment, so building up a larger-than-usual emergency fund could bolster your family’s finances if you happen to lose income.

    Cutting back on discretionary spending and adding a margin-of-safety to your annual budget could help you mitigate the added costs of these import tariffs.

    Estimates by the Yale University Budget Lab conducted after the “Liberation Day” announcement suggest that the typical American household could see an average purchasing power loss of $4,700 in 2024 dollars due to the trade war.

    For your investments, you could consider a safe haven asset such as gold to protect some of your wealth.

    Each ounce of the yellow metal has increased in price by more than 20% over the past six months, and some investors are retreating to it as a safe haven during market volatility.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • ‘You’ve made a colossal mess’: Dave Ramsey left speechless after Seattle man borrowed $80K from in-laws for trailer parked on their ‘dirt’ — now things are awkward. 3 crucial takeaways

    ‘You’ve made a colossal mess’: Dave Ramsey left speechless after Seattle man borrowed $80K from in-laws for trailer parked on their ‘dirt’ — now things are awkward. 3 crucial takeaways

    Jeremy from Seattle, Washington, believes his recent purchase of a recreational four-wheeler was a “dumb decision.”

    Speaking with finance guru Dave Ramsey on a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, the young man said his new “toy” is irritating his parents-in-law because they want him to focus on repaying $80,000 he borrowed from them to buy a manufactured home that sits on their property.

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    Ramsey quickly pointed out that purchasing the four-wheeler isn’t his biggest mistake: “You have a $80K trailer and you don’t own the dirt? Oh god, wow,” he said. “You guys have made a colossal mess.”

    “You’re playing Russian Roulette and there’s three bullets in the gun — not one,” Ramsey said.

    He offers three reasons why Jeremy’s deal with his family is a brewing financial disaster.

    1. Leaving collateral on “someone else’s dirt”

    Jeremy’s housing situation is precarious because he doesn’t have control over the land on which his home sits.

    Millions of Americans live in manufactured homes across the country, according to the Pew Charitable Trust, and 35% of those who financed their purchase have a “home only loan.”

    That means they owe money on something that almost always depreciates in value compared to a house. And on top of that, they lack control or ownership over the land, which is typically an appreciating asset.

    “You do not have control of the situation,” Ramsey explained to Jeremy. He points out that if anything were to happen — like say the in-laws were to cause a car accident and face a lawsuit as a result — the dirt under their trailer could be taken from them.

    “They have no control over that and you have no control over that. So you have set yourself up. And I’ve seen this a thousand times in 30 years of doing what I do — not owning the dirt under your trailer is a massive mistake.”

    2. Pitfalls of borrowing from friends and family

    Jeremy’s situation is exacerbated by the fact that his loan was borrowed from his family.

    Nearly 37% of recent homebuyers in the U.S. financed their purchase with some financial assistance from their parents or grandparents, whether that be co-buying, gifting them the deposit or allowing them to live rent free to save up for the purchase, according to Compare the Market.

    However, a study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that borrowing money from loved ones complicates the relationship and can lead to feelings of animosity.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    Jeremy is certainly feeling the strain in his relationship with his in-laws, which is why Ramsey recommends getting out of the deal. He wants Jeremy and his wife to sell the manufactured home (even if they’re to take a loss on it), repay their debt and start over renting somewhere else.

    “Borrowing 80,000 from your in-laws for anything for any reason is a massive mistake,” says the finance guru.

    3. Setting clear boundaries in every deal

    Unwinding Jeremy’s messy housing and financial situation could take some time. In the interim, Ramsey recommends having an open conversation with his in-laws to set clear expectations and boundaries.

    “You just sit down and say, ‘I thought our deal was I pay you monthly payments and you’re happy but now it’s I pay you monthly payments and I have to check with you before I buy anything and that’s not a deal I’m okay,” he recommended.

    Getting on the same page should help stabilize the relationship. While Ramsey doesn’t agree the in-laws were right about their indignation that Jeremy chose to indulge in a $6,000 toy as long as Jeremy was upholding his end of the deal, he does point out he put himself in this precarious position.

    Ramsey’s cohost Ken Coleman then piped up to offer Jeremy some “salve” after Ramsey’s scorching advice.

    “Walk away from this to realize it could have got a lot worse, and this thing can get nastier if you don’t fix it now. And I could not say that enough. You can dig out of this but I would start digging quickly.”

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • The US car market is bankrupting Americans — and it’s only going to get worse. Here’s how to save thousands of dollars if you want to buy a car soon

    The US car market is bankrupting Americans — and it’s only going to get worse. Here’s how to save thousands of dollars if you want to buy a car soon

    The U.S. car market faces a perfect storm that is rapidly engulfing ordinary car owners across the country. The clearest sign of this is the rising rate of auto loan borrowers who are falling behind on their monthly payments.

    As of January this year, 6.6% of subprime auto borrowers were at least 60 days past due on their loans, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.

    This is the highest rate since Fitch started collecting this data in the early 1990s. And things are not expected to get better. The report says the subprime segment of the auto loan market faces a “deteriorating outlook” for the rest of 2025.

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    This is alarming given the size of the auto loan market. As of the first quarter of 2025, households collectively held $1.64 trillion in auto loan debt, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

    Not only is that larger than the outstanding student loan balance but it’s also the largest source of non-housing debt for all households in aggregate.

    Here’s how our cars transformed from symbols of freedom to symbols of unsustainable toxic debt.

    How did we get here?

    The foundation of today’s crisis was laid five years ago during the pandemic. Supply chain disruptions and factory closures at the time created strange dynamics that pushed car prices higher.

    In January 2022, 80% of new car buyers paid more than manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, according to Edmunds. Used car prices were rising faster than new car prices at the time, according to Cox Automotive.

    In other words, car buyers paid too much for their cars. Now, values have declined while many owners have seen a steady rise in interest rates. This shift has pushed many car owners underwater on their purchase.

    In fact, 1 in 5 vehicle trade-ins near the end of last year had negative equity of $10,000 or more, according to Edmunds. The situation is grim and the outlook is just as bleak.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    What comes next?

    While the auto market is dealing with rising interest rates and dropping prices, it’s now also facing the additional challenge of President Donald Trump’s trade war.

    Roughly 50% of the cars Americans purchased in 2024 were imported from other countries, usually Canada, Mexico, Japan and the EU, according to the Trump administration.

    Even domestic car makers rely on auto parts from other countries, which is why the administration recently stepped in to offer some rebates to domestic producers.

    Nonetheless, vehicles and auto parts currently face a 25% tariff. As a result, most cars under the price of $40,000 could see a price hike of roughly $6,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

    Since the price hike comes at a time when consumers are already feeling squeezed, it’s unlikely that manufacturers can pass these costs along to them. Instead, many are cutting costs and reducing their workforce.

    Hundreds of General Motors and Stellantis autoworkers have been laid off, whhile Ford, having warned of potential layoffs, recently elimanted 350 softwarre jobs, saying the move was unrelated to tariffs, but "to make sure we are operating efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment".

    Potential car buyers and owners need to prepare for this tough market.

    Protect yourself

    According to Kelley Blue Book, if you’re looking to buy a new car in this market it’s probably better to do so before the tariff impact trickles down to the price tag.

    However, given where interest rates and prices currently are, try to stick to a tight budget while shopping.

    Buying a relatively cheap used car or leasing one if you can find a good deal is probably a good idea.

    If you’re a car owner struggling with auto loan debt, consider trading it in for a cheaper model to reduce the burden. If you own multiple cars, it might also be a good time to sell one to reduce your loan exposure.

    It’s also worth considering refinancing or shopping around for a better auto loan interest rate. Locking in a good deal with attractive terms today could shield you from the volatility that potentially lays ahead in the car market.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Here’s the stunning new ‘retire comfortably’ number in 2025 — and why 97% of Americans miss it completely. Are you one of them?

    Here’s the stunning new ‘retire comfortably’ number in 2025 — and why 97% of Americans miss it completely. Are you one of them?

    According to the 2025 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress study, the average American now believes they need $1.26 million to retire. That’s $200,000 less than they said they needed last year and nearly the same as the figure quoted in 2022.

    The fact that the target hasn’t moved much in the last three years hasn’t made it more accessible, however. The vast majority of U.S. adults are still falling short of this benchmark and are hurtling towards a difficult and uncomfortable retirement. Here’s why, and what you can do to help yourself reach that figure.

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    Lack of savings and investments

    Although most Americans agree that they need to enter the seven-figure club to retire comfortably, only a small fraction of the population has actually achieved this target.

    As of 2024, the U.S. was home to 7.9 million millionaires, according to Capgemini Research. That’s roughly 3% of the country’s total adult population, which means that 97% of Americans haven’t yet reached millionaire status. And keep in mind: that figure includes people of all ages and wealth levels, not just those nearing retirement. Several factors contribute to this shortfall. While some Americans may not prioritize retirement savings, many face barriers that make it difficult to set aside money, including rising housing costs, student loan debt and inflation. Even those who are diligently saving can find it challenging to keep up with the growing cost of a comfortable retirement.

    Starting early is key to saving for retirement

    Although 97% of people aren’t millionaires, many could meet that target eventually if they start investing at a young enough age.

    A 20-year old, for instance, needs to invest just $330 a month into an asset class that delivers a steady 7% annual return to reach $1.26 million by the time they turn 65. Having the luxury of time significantly boosts your chances of becoming a millionaire.

    This doesn’t mean it’s too late for middle-aged savers, but it takes a significantly greater investment. If a 50-year-old hasn’t started saving for retirement, they’d need to invest $3,958 a month at a steady 7% return to reach $1.26 million by retirement.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    The real ‘retire comfortably’ number will be unique to your situation

    Saving $1.26 million doesn’t guarantee a comfortable retirement for everyone. For example, if your net worth is $1 million but your annual living expenses are $200,000 or $300,000, you need much more than $1 million in savings to continue living the same lifestyle in retirement.

    In fact, two thirds of millionaires don’t consider themselves “wealthy” and half of them say their financial planning needs improvement, according to another study by Northwestern Mutual. In short, being a millionaire doesn’t mean you’re ready for retirement.

    If you live in a state or another country with a lower cost of living, your target might be smaller. According to Empower’s calculations of tax burdens and costs of living, states like Alaska and New Hampshire might be ideal for retirees looking to minimize their expenses. Try using a retirement calculator or consulting a financial planner to determine your personal target. With enough time and meticulous planning, you can be on track for almost any type of retirement you might want.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

  • Dave Portnoy reveals the No.1 thing he’s learned about money — says it took 10 years to get $1M, but now he can make $5M in 1 week. How to get ‘over the hump’ and have riches ‘come to you’

    Dave Portnoy reveals the No.1 thing he’s learned about money — says it took 10 years to get $1M, but now he can make $5M in 1 week. How to get ‘over the hump’ and have riches ‘come to you’

    For a man who built a media empire out of hot takes and hustle, Dave Portnoy’s biggest money lesson is surprisingly simple: “Once you get it, it’s easy to get a lot more," he told Shannon Sharpe on a recent episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast.

    The entrepreneur, who sold his company Barstool Sports to Penn Entertainment for about $500 million only to buy it back for $1 a few years later, says it took him a decade to accumulate his first million. But once he did, making money became significantly easier and he now claims to be able to generate $5 million in a week.

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    "Once you get over the hump it just comes [to you]," says the 48-year-old online influencer.

    Here’s why wealth creation can accelerate after you hit certain milestones.

    The ultra-rich rely on the snowball effect to build wealth

    Portnoy is referring to compound growth, a key strategy used by many to grow wealth. The late Charlie Munger often described it as “getting a snowball rolling down a hill.”

    The snowball effect helps to explain why wealth creation accelerates once a person has hit certain financial milestones. An investor who starts off with no money and invests $1,000 a month in an asset that generates 10% annual returns would make $100,000 in 6.5 years. But with compound growth, that $100,000 would take just four years to grow to $200,000, and just three more years to reach $300,000.

    This is because an investor with $100,000 is earning returns not only on their monthly contributions but also their accumulated wealth.

    Put another way, an investor with $100 million in net worth can easily generate $5 million quickly — perhaps within a week — because they would need to earn just 5% on their assets to do so.

    In fact, Portnoy admitted during the interview that he once “spent five hours just talking about the interest" he was earning on his cash after he got rich. "I couldn’t believe it, I was making money not doing anything."

    This is why your early financial milestones are so critical in your long-term wealth creation journey: the earlier you start investing large amounts of money, the longer it has to grow with the most growth opportunity.

    Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

    How to set clear targets to build wealth

    If you want to reach that tipping point where wealth builds itself, you need a strategy, and that starts with setting smart, achievable goals. Think of your first major milestone, such as $100,000 in assets, as the start of your personal snowball.

    However, it’s essential that you consider your age, lifestyle and location while setting financial targets. A 60-year-old in San Francisco may need far more, while a 20-something in Detroit could be ahead of the curve with far less.

    Once you’ve got a target, the next step is making sure your money is actually working. Keeping a large sum in a savings account earning a low interest won’t get you anywhere. And stuffing it under your mattress would be even worse. Inflation will eat away at your purchasing power every year.

    Instead, build a portfolio that’s designed to grow. That might mean investing in stocks, ETFs, real estate or even alternative assets. The key is finding the right mix of risk and reward for your goals.

    If you’re not sure where to start, talk to a financial advisor or planner who can help you set targets, diversify your assets and stay on track. Because once you hit that first big number and let compound growth kick in, you might find your money growing a lot faster than you expected.

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    This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.