Wealth and Wisdom: Week of August 17, 2026
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Today’s uncertain economy and financial markets are posing threats – and creating opportunities. And whether it’s a positive or a negative experience may have a lot to do with what stage of life you are in, as you will read below.
Many new college graduates, for example, are having trouble finding a job that suits their talents. Others, by contrast, are becoming entrepreneurs in hopes of controlling their own destinies.
Those in mid-life face the dire prospect of not only caring for themselves – but also taking some financial responsibility for both their children and their parents. Rapidly rising costs aren’t making it any easier on them.
And older workers – two out of every five, in fact – now believe they will never be able to afford retirement and plan to work for as long as they are able.
But if you want to know what bolsters my faith in the future – be sure to read Item #5 below about how younger generations are taking responsibility for their own financial lives instead of relying on parents or the government to take care of them.
We are gratified to discover that we and our Wealth and Wisdom readers are finally hip again. There is hope for us all.
After 14 years of aiming for a 2% inflation rate, the Federal Reserve now seems willing to accept a higher target. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
Severe weather and an era of rising prices are driving up the cost of insuring a home – assuming you’re able to keep your policy. (Reading time: 6 minutes)
Rising prices, a hiring slowdown, and the growth of AI are making it hard for recent graduates to find work. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Generation Z – currently younger than age 30 – are creating an entrepreneurial boom. And many say AI is making it easier to compete for business. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Younger investors are discovering the timeless wisdom of earning more, spending less, and making their savings work for them. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
They’re caught between raising children and caring for their own parents – and it’s happening earlier in life than it used to. (Reading time: 5 minutes)
Retiring early used to be a popular dream – but a new survey says 42% of Americans over age 60 now expect to work for the rest of their lives. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
An excellent, concise summary of how qualified charitable distributions work – and whether they might make sense for you. (Reading time: 5 minutes)
Retirement is about a lot more than money. It’s also about how you choose to live – and how you’ll get help when you need it. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
Tipping used to be a way to reward good customer service, but no more. And now those once-valued consumers are starting to rebel. (Reading time: 8 minutes)
Words to the Wise
“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.”
– Lucille Ball
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