What’s sending gold prices through the roof? What’s behind the uptick in market volatility we saw in January? Both are connected to how the rest of the world sees us these days, which is clearly reflected in the value of the U.S. dollar . The dollar has fallen more than 12% in value vs. global currencies in the past year – a four-year low. President Trump said last week he was not concerned about a weakening dollar, arguing that it helps U.S. manufacturers and exporters by ma

How to declutter your finances Show notes: All right... if you’ve had enough with all the papers you don’t know whether to keep... all the account statements... important notices you get in the mail every day... the legal documents you don’t know where to file... If you’re ready to get serious... about getting rid of some financial clutter... If you’re ready to rid yourself of the mental clutter that comes with it... Well, don’t hit pause... I’m about to share with you... a s

The financial markets continue to absorb much of the uncertainty we’re experiencing these days. And judged the final numbers, 2025 will be remembered as a decent year by historical standards. Consumer inflation was 2.7% in December, down from a high of 3.0% in September. That’s still well above the Fed’s 2.0% target, and prices for essential items remain stubbornly high. Thanks to rising food prices, a jump in health insurance costs, runaway home prices, and slower income gro

If you plan to retire in 2026 – or just want to be a big step closer – now’s the moment to line up a few practical projects you can chip away at over the next twelve months. Don’t think “perfect plan.” Think “progress.” Pick three to start in the first quarter, then add more as you build momentum. 1. Put your retirement date in writing. Circle a target year (even a ballpark) and sketch out the basics: monthly spending  for housing, travel, grandkids, hobbies. Then list your i