Wealth and Wisdom: Week of January 19, 2026
- Mike Brown
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
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 growth, middle-income Americans have been consistently falling behind for the last five years.
The U.S. economy grew by 2.1% net of inflation last year, well above the consensus expectation of World Bank economists, who were expecting 1.4% growth at the midpoint of 2025. Unemployment ended the year at 4.4% after its 4.6% high in November.
Despite what the official numbers show, however, American consumers are growing increasingly pessimistic about the future. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index has fallen for five months straight. Most of the worries center around slow income growth and a tightening job market.
In some cases, there are better ways to save for retirement. Ask yourself these questions to see what’s best for you. (Reading time: 7 minutes)
Use recent tax law changes to reduce the IRS’s cut – and potentially boost your investment returns. (Reading time: 5 minutes)
This author says his worst investment decisions had one thing in common: he wasn’t able to sell them when he wanted to. (Reading time: 5 minutes)
Depending on how much you earn, working can boost your future Social Security benefits – even if you’re already drawing them. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
New research claims people working past age 65 are up to three times more likely to enjoy good health than those who retire early. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Figuring out what it takes to pay the monthly bills is simple – but don’t ignore these potential spending surprises. (Reading time: 6 minutes)
About half of America’s retirees simply take money out of their investments whenever they need it. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
LTC policies can be expensive and full of surprises, which explains why their popularity is fading. Thankfully, there are other options. (Reading time: 6 minutes)
Getting organized can save you time, money, and stress. Here are 8 ideas to help you get started. (Reading time: 6 minutes)
It’s $117 trillion per year – and this dramatic illustration shows how the U.S. economy accounts for more than a quarter of it. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
Words to the Wise
“If all economists were laid end to end, they still would not reach a conclusion.”
– George Bernard Shaw
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