Wealth and Wisdom: Week of June 23, 2025
- Mike Brown
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
First it was tariffs, now the prospect of another war in the Middle East. Current events and political drama are distracting investors from what drives financial markets over the long run – earnings, dividends, and the economy.
Behind the headlines, the business of the nation continues to hum along fairly well. Employers are still hiring, unemployment is low and steady, and inflation is easing – at least for now. Corporate profits are steadily rising, and dividends are keeping pace. Economists and pundits have quietly removed the word ‘recession’ from their forecasts for the balance of 2025.
Next up: We’ll see what Congress can agree on when it comes to tax rates, government spending, and solving the nation’s growing debt crisis.
Many online retailers are cutting back on free shipping offers to offset some of the rising cost of tariffs. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
There are now half-a-million more people trying to sell homes in the U.S. people looking to buy one – yet prices remain stubbornly high. (Reading time: 6 minutes)
Extra government subsidies put into place during the pandemic will expire December 31 – which could drive up the cost of Obamacare. (Reading time: 6 minutes)
This quick snapshot shows how money flows into the federal government – and how that money (plus more) gets spent each year. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
Retirees in both Missouri and Illinois enjoy a cost of living that’s well below the national average. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
Cryptocurrency may soon be a standard option in employee retirement accounts – but one of the nation’s leading authorities thinks it’s a terrible idea. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
Unless you have a much shorter-than-average life expectancy, it makes mathematical sense to hold off filing for retirement benefits. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
This retiree cancelled half-a-dozen subscriptions he wasn’t using – and is saving thousands of dollars a year. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
Here are 5 ways your thinking may be sabotaging your investment success – and how to avoid them. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
No, Warren Buffett and Elon Musk don’t really want you to join their WhatsApp investment group so they can share trading tips with you. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
Words to the Wise
“If 'pro' is the opposite of 'con' - then what is the opposite of 'progress'?”
– Paul Harvey, radio commentator
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