Daniel • The Money Maniac @RealMoneyManiac

Top Friday Follow - Daniel Anderson @RealMoneyManiac Each Friday I highlight a key voice I am learning from right now and today is focused on an ex-Wall Street analyst. Daniel's weekly newsletter drops on Friday (thus called the "5 Fact Friday") and highlights the 5 most…

If you ever wonder why oil prices are such a big deal, just imagine paying your rent or mortgage $1 at a time. It’d be hard not to question the powers that be as you watch the money flow out of your wallet: $722… $723… $724… But that's the reality with oil prices, a…

Ever notice how gold gets all the attention during economic panic mode, like that one friend who thrives on drama? When whispers of war or a recession start swirling, investors flock to gold like moths to a flame. Why? Because gold is viewed as an alternative to the…

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held one of its 8 annual press conferences this Wednesday afternoon. Here’s the skinny: Who are they? For those just tuning in, the FOMC is the squad behind the U.S. monetary policy. They act on behalf of the Federal Reserve, or the Fed,…

Most Americans are living hand to mouth. Saving just $50 per week can go a LONG way toward building an emergency fund, investing in a 401k, or starting a business. And that is how you change your financial future. This take is 🗑️

Ramit Sethi @ramit

3 months ago

Most Americans are living hand to mouth. Saving just $50 per week can go a LONG way toward building an emergency fund, investing in a 401k, or starting a business. And that is how you change your financial future. This take is 🗑️

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Consumer sentiment spikes In a refreshing turn of events, consumer sentiment has taken a sharp upswing. According to the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers, sentiment has climbed to its highest level since January 2021. This surge indicates growing confidence among…

Commercial real estate is drowning While the Federal Reserve appears to have orchestrated a soft landing in the stock market, the same can not be said for commercial real estate (CRE). Green Street reports a 22% decline in commercial property values since early 2022, with…

The AI revolution continues AI continues to be the center of innovation, disruption, and growth in the business world. As investment pours into this new technology, AI is rapidly redefining the landscape, crowning new winners and losers almost every day. The Winners Chip…

IPO interest picks up After years of market volatility and a challenging fundraising environment, startups may now be looking at an initial public offering (IPO) as "an increasingly appealing option." With a red-hot market and Federal Reserve rate cuts on the horizon, Lise…

The stock market reaches new heights This week, major indices notched new all-time highs for the first time in more than two years. - After five consecutive record-setting days, the S&P 500 index closed at 4,894 yesterday - The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 38,000 for…

Car ownership is costly In the land of road trips and car culture, Americans are struggling to keep up with the soaring costs of car ownership. Since 2020, the price of a new vehicle is up 30% while the price of a used car has skyrocketed 38%. The pandemic, with its supply…

Homebuilder sentiment is improving The homebuilding industry is witnessing a wave of cautious optimism, as falling mortgage rates begin to breathe life back into the market. The National Association of Home Builders’ monthly index jumped from 37 to 44. Technically, this…

Bitcoin ETF debut sets trading records Last week’s approval of 11 Bitcoin ETFs made waves in the crypto market. According to Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst for Bloomberg, Bitcoin smashed records with “easily the biggest Day One splash in ETF history.” The day bitcoin ETFs…

China’s population is shrinking China is facing a demographic challenge that's hard to ignore. After a 0.85% decline in 2022, the population dipped another 2.08% in 2023. This trend has significant implications for the world's second-largest economy, and here's why: 1)…

The U.S. consumer is resilient Retail sales exceeded expectations in December. Department stores, car dealerships, and online shops all led the way, indicating that American consumers did not hold back last month. But, maybe they should have… The Fed’s latest Consumer Credit…

Is that pesky 20% down payment holding you back from buying a home? It doesn’t have to. Here are 3 loan programs worth considering: 1. HomeReady: 3% down 2. Home Possible: 3% down 3. FHA: 3.5% down

According to Fidelity, Q3 saw a noticeable uptick in withdrawals from 401(k) accounts: 2.3% of workers took a hardship withdrawal - Up from 1.8% last year 2.8% took a 401(k) loan - Up from 2.4% 3.2% took an in-service withdrawal - Up from 2.7% Is this a leading indicator?

Credit card delinquency rates have increased for the 8th straight quarter. As a nation, the U.S. now has: - $1.08T in credit card debt - An average interest rate of 21% Americans seem committed to maintaining their lifestyles – even if it means borrowing from tomorrow.

Swiss bank Banque Pictet was fined $122.9M for aiding in U.S. tax evasion. From 2008-2014, Pictet served 3,736 accounts with an average value of $5M. The bank helped clients: - Form offshore entities - Open undocumented accounts - Transfer funds through fictitious donations