Why I have doubts about the supposed “next Global Financial Crisis”

Why I have doubts about the supposed “next Global Financial Crisis”

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)   March 11, 2026

It was the early 2000s, and poor Monty was down on his luck.

 An aging, out-of-work game hunter and security guard, Monty had been unemployed for quite some time. Fortunately, he was getting by, but living off the generosity of a family in southern California who had taken him in. Without them Monty would have almost certainly been living on the street.

 But things started to change for Monty on a fateful day when his host family received a letter in the mail from a local bank-- addressed to Monty. They eagerly ripped open the letter to find that the bank had pre-approved old Monty for a substantial line of credit!

They all found this extraordinary… and not just because Monty had no job, no income, no assets (i.e. a classic “NINJA loan” from the early 2000s). What was particularly unique about this case is that Monty was a dog.

 We’ve talked about this a lot over the years-- but in case you’re too young to remember, the early 2000s was a decade in which anyone and everyone was able to borrow money.

 The Federal Reserve had slashed interest rates to zero-- which made borrowing look cheap… even free. And government policy was prompting banks to ignore all common sense and underwrite loans to anyone with a pulse… and occasionally some people without a pulse.

 The stories covered in books like Michael Lewis’s The Big Short are hilarious-- dead people, homeless people, unemployed people, prison inmates, canines and cats… they were wall approved for mortgages despite having no ability to make monthly payments.

 There were so many loans being issued that the US mortgage market quickly ballooned to $11 trillion.  Investment banks packaged up these dubious loans and dressed them up as special investment-grade bonds… and then the big Wall Street ratings agencies (like S&P, Fitch, etc.) slapped the highest quality “AAA” rating on them as if they were risk-free.

 The whole system blew up in 2008, causing multiple financial institutions to collapse-- triggering the Global Financial Crisis.

 The warning signs were there all along. But very few people paid attention.

 My friend and partner Peter Schiff was one of the few voices of reason who accurately predicted this crisis years before it actually happened; Peter used to go on live television and get laughed at by CNBC’s panel of ‘experts’. But in the end, Peter was right… and the whole system blew up.

 It turns out that lending money to broke, unemployed people who cannot pay is a pretty stupid lending policy.

 Now, you may have heard about new trouble emerging in the financial sector. And gee what else is new. Finance guys almost invariably find ways to generate short-term profits while creating long-term risk.

 And the latest brewing financial crisis of the day is the so-called ‘private credit market’.

 Private credit is what it sounds like-- funds and investors (i.e. NOT banks) underwrite private loans to companies. This isn’t particularly controversial; private lending is one of the cornerstones of capitalism.

 And usually these loans are asset-backed-- just like a real estate mortgage-- so the lender has collateral.

 Private lending was initially brought on by the ultra-low interest rates of the pandemic era (when companies could borrow for 3%); and it also ballooned-- estimated at roughly $3 trillion. That’s a pretty chunky number, even in the $30+ trillion US economy.

 But, just like the subprime market in the years before the GFC kicked off, there are starting to be warning signs that private credit is cracking.

 One of those-- most notably-- is that a major private lending fund (run by Blackstone, one of the world’s largest asset managers) has capped redemptions, i.e. they have limited the amount of money that investors can withdraw.

 This is a pretty clear sign of strain. Perhaps not the proverbial canary in the coalmine… but it’s a big deal that an investment firm with the size and reputation of Blackstone isn’t letting its investors out of their fund.

 (In fairness, the fund documents do stipulate redemption limits. But it’s pretty unusual for an asset manager to have to exercise this clause.)

 Another sign of strain is that default rates are up dramatically. Fitch (the same guys who slapped AAA ratings on NINJA loans 20 years ago) estimated that roughly 10% of US private loans are in default. That’s a big number, and it could go a lot higher.

 A key reason is that interest rates are MUCH higher today than when many of these loans were originally underwritten. So, any borrower that needs to refinance (which is likely the vast majority) will see a massive spike in monthly payments.

 That will be unaffordable for a lot of borrowers, resulting in even higher defaults. Plus, general economic malaise could contribute to higher default rates too.

 A chief concern about private credit is that many loans were like subprime “NINJA loans”, i.e. private loans that were way too big, issued to borrowers who were not creditworthy.

 I doubt anyone will shed any tears that Blackstone might lose money in a bad deal. But there could be knock-on effects-- specifically to banks.

 I know the whole point of ‘private’ credit is that the loans are NOT issued by banks. But in a rather peculiar twist, banks often loan money to private credit funds, who in turn loan that same bank money to the final borrower. Strange, right?

 Bottom line, banks are exposed.

 A few prominent voices lately have been warning that this private credit fiasco has all the hallmarks of the early 2000s subprime bubble… and that the next GFC is upon us.

 And there are definitely similarities. But a LOT of major differences too-- most notably size. The private credit market is MUCH smaller than subprime was, and it’s difficult to see how those losses would take down the US financial system again, let alone the entire global economy.

 But there are also significant existing risks in the banking sector-- like rising defaults in traditional office and commercial loans, and mark-to-market losses in banks’ bond portfolios.

 We’ve talked about this before-- US financial institutions are collectively sitting on hundreds of billions of dollars in unrealized losses, and most of those losses ironically come from Treasury bonds. So, another ~$100+ billion hit from private credit could definitely hurt banks.

I’ve been looking at this pretty hard, but at the moment I don’t see some epic crisis emerging from private credit.

 That said, one EASY Plan B option to safeguard your capital is to hold funds at Treasury Direct.

 Through Treasury Direct, any US citizen is able to set up an account and hold virtually any amount of money through ultra-short-term T-bills; it’s like keeping your money in a 4-week certificate of deposit, but without any bank counterparty risk.

 As we’ve discussed many times before, the US government is in pretty dire financial straits. But even I don’t think they’re going to default in the next four weeks.

 So, this is a safer alternative to hold cash--and you can quickly link your Treasury Direct account to your bank for easy back & forth transfers

To your freedom,   James Hickman    Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/why-i-have-doubts-about-the-supposed-next-global-financial-crisis-154498/?inf_contact_key=f96c323f9cc8163cafd9dc76d0a66125df50326a1e561daba0ba774a8ec98964

4 Common Mistakes Affluent Americans Make With Their Money

4 Common Mistakes Affluent Americans Make With Their Money — and How To Avoid Them

Vance Cariaga    GOBankingRates

Affluence, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder. What looks like wealth to one person might not seem that way to others — especially if that “wealth” is offset by high debt and reckless spending. Just because someone earns a high salary doesn’t make them immune to the same financial mistakes as everyone else.

Even defining “affluence” isn’t easy. As Forbes reported, many factors go into determining someone’s wealth — including net worth, household income and location. A net worth of $500,000 might make you affluent in some parts of the country, while in other parts even $1 million falls short of the mark.

A recent survey from financial services provider Equitable defined the “mass affluent” as Americans who have an income level at or above $90,000 per year. According to that survey, 80% of all Americans are “concerned” about the affordability of everyday living costs, regardless of income. Nearly half aim to change their financial habits in 2025 to ease financial stress. Almost 70% of the mass affluent said they plan to increase their savings by $500 or more per month.

Increasing savings is one way to bolster your finances. Another way is to avoid making the same mistakes over and over. Here are four common mistakes affluent Americans make and how to avoid them, according to Nasha Knowles, CFP, a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors who counsels high net worth individuals.

Underestimating Income Taxes

Many affluent people don’t realize the tax impact when they start earning more money, Knowles told GOBankingRates in an email.

“They will now pay more in taxes because they make more, and they will also be in a higher tax bracket,” she said. “It always surprises them how much they are now paying in taxes.”

To avoid this mistake, hire a tax professional or financial advisor to help with tax planning.

Making Big Ticket Purchases Without Considering Related Costs

“Some [affluent] people now want to buy bigger ticket items such as a more expensive car, or a home,” The problem, according to Knowles, is that these items also come with bigger costs, such as more taxes and higher insurance payments. Whenever Knowles’ clients make a major purchase, she advises them to discuss it with her first to calculate the overall cost. Knowles said.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/4-common-mistakes-affluent-americans-150403040.html

How To Make Sure A Windfall Lasts

How To Make Sure A Windfall Lasts

Moneywise    Sun, March 8, 2026

‘We are super screwed’: This couple spent a $171K inheritance in less than a year.

Inheriting a windfall may seem like a dream come true, but it can cause tremendous anxiety and guilt, and it can even leave you financially worse off.

For instance, Mike and Noel, both 34 and recently married, burned through a $171,000 inheritance in about a year. You can imagine how that left them feeling.

“We are super screwed,” Noel told Ramit Sethi on an episode of his podcast, I Will Teach You To Be Rich (1).

And it’s not like they are in dire circumstances. Mike earns a six-figure salary and is supporting Noel while she finishes law school — but they have always struggled with debt and money management, even before the inheritance.

While they used some of the inheritance to pay off debt, they quickly accumulated more: Noel spent $30,000 on furniture, $10,000 on clothes and $10,000 on a trip to Mexico. Mike purchased a hair transplant and Pokémon cards, which he considered an “investment.”

Now, they have $30,000 in assets, another $30,000 in investments and zero savings after spending the inheritance, but they are also $244,000 in debt, leaving them with a negative net worth of roughly -$200,000.

Because of it, Noel said she regrets treating the money like “guilt-free spending,” while Mike said he feels anxious and stressed, leading to tension and fights over finances.

While there are a lot of issues to unpack here — from Mike’s anxiety around money to Noel’s addiction issues — their situation demonstrates how quickly a windfall can disappear without clear priorities, budgeting and an investment plan. It also underscores the risks of lifestyle creep and impulsive spending.

If you’re in line for a significant financial windfall, here are some tips to make that inheritance last.

The Great Wealth Transfer

Even if you aren’t in line for multigenerational wealth, large inheritances might become more common than you think.

Through 2048, Gen X and millennials are projected to inherit $124 trillion in assets — what’s referred to as America’s Great Wealth Transfer — with Gen X expected to receive the largest share of assets over the next decade, according to the latest Cerulli Associates report (2).

However, the problem is that some heirs treat inheritances like regular income rather than long-term capital.

Part of the reason could be psychological. Noel, for example, inherited the money from her dad, with whom she had a difficult relationship. “He was an alcoholic and addict and was really not in my life, and so I had a lot of guilt [about inheriting his assets],” she told Sethi.

And she’s not alone. A Harris Poll report found that inheritances come with complex emotions: A third (33%) of younger recipients feel stress managing larger or more complex assets, and a similar share (34%) worry about mismanaging those assets (3).

According to the same report, while most inheritors feel grateful and relieved by newfound financial security, 20% feel pressure, 18% feel anxiety and 15% feel guilt.

This phenomenon is sometimes called Sudden Wealth Syndrome, a psychological condition affecting people who suddenly acquire wealth — through an inheritance, lottery, legal settlement or other windfall. Causes can include feeling disconnected from one’s previous life or an intense fear of losing it all.

These feelings can lead to decision paralysis or poor financial choices.

Making the most of an inheritance

In short, inheriting a windfall can be overwhelming. While a large inheritance can help you pay off debt and invest for the future, it can also be very tempting to go on a spending spree.

Friends and family might also offer unsolicited advice — regardless of whether you ask for it.

That’s why having a plan in place — one tailored to your specific circumstances — can go a long way in helping you make your inheritance last. Without one, even a six-figure windfall can quickly evaporate.

To Read More:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/super-screwed-couple-spent-171k-121500075.html

"Money Dysmorphia"

"Money Dysmorphia" Could Be Seriously Hurting Your Finances. Here's How To Tell If You Have It.

Caroline Bologna  Tue, October 1, 2024 BuzzFeed

Loud budgeting. Slow shopping. Girl math. These days, there are endless quippy terms to describe the trends and phenomena in the realm of personal finance.

One of the more insidious realities impacting people’s financial health has a name as well: money dysmorphia.

To help keep the negative impacts at bay, HuffPost asked experts to break down this phenomenon and share their advice for dealing with it.

What Is ‘Money Dysmorphia’?

“Money dysmorphia is when you have a warped or distorted view of your finances,” said Danielle Desir Corbett, a personal finance expert and host of “The Thought Card” podcast. “You see your financial situation much differently from your reality. Money dysmorphia can be caused by a variety of reasons, including past money trauma, societal pressures, economic crisis, or could be deeply rooted in childhood upbringing.”

A recent Credit Karma survey found that 29% of Americans experience money dysmorphia.

“Money dysmorphia is a play on keeping up with the Joneses, except the inability to ‘keep up’ is causing some people to experience feelings of inadequacy,” said Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma.

The survey data reveals that the issue is particularly prevalent in younger generations, as 43% of Gen Zers and 41% of millennials reported experiencing money dysmorphia, compared to 25% of Gen Xers and 14% of those aged 59 or above.

“While the term is new, the feelings aren’t,” said Dasha Kennedy, the creator of The Broke Black Girl and a financial wellness board member at National Debt Relief. “Many people have felt financially insecure for a long time without having a specific name for it. Now, by giving it a name, it’s easier to understand and address these feelings.”

People have long worried about money and felt that they don’t have enough ― even when they do. The problem seems to have worsened, however, in the online age.

Elizabeth Ayoola, a personal finance expert and writer at NerdWallet, told HuffPost she believes people’s skewed view of their finances is “often shaped by comparisons to others they see on social media or by soaking up economic news that creates worry.”

“When people have money dysmorphia, they’re likely looking at their finances more subjectively than objectively,” she added.

What Are The Signs Of Money Dysmorphia?

TO READ MORE:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/money-dysmorphia-could-seriously-hurting-031602305.html

6 Money Rules That Worked 20 Years Ago — and Fail Now

6 Money Rules That Worked 20 Years Ago — and Fail Now

Jordan Rosenfeld   GoBankingRates     Mon, March 2, 2026

For years, personal finance advice was built around simple rules designed for a more stable economy. Americans have been taught to follow some key financial rules that made sense for a long time. But higher living costs, longer careers, shifting job patterns and mounting financial tradeoffs have made many of those once-reliable rules harder to follow and, in some cases, financially risky.

Experts explained which money rules fail now and what to do instead.

1. Save 10% of Your Income

For decades, saving 10% of your income was considered a gold-standard rule of thumb. But that advice was shaped by a very different economic reality, one with lower healthcare costs, shorter retirements and more stable career paths. Today, “cost of living is on the rise and wages are stagnant,” said Ashley Morgan, a debt and bankruptcy lawyer at Ashley F Morgan Law, PC. This means that even when being conservative with budgets, people have to spend more money to meet a minimal standard of living, she stressed.

Robin Lovely, a CFP, retirement planner and founder at The Women’s Advisory Group, works with many clients — often women — who are dealing with divorce, caregiving or career transitions. “The old guideline of saving 10% of your income doesn’t reflect their realities today,” she said. She advises her clients to aim closer to 15% to 20% when possible, “even if they have to build toward that number over time.”

2. Housing Should Cost No More Than 30% of Income

Old advice suggested that you should spend no more than 30% of your income on housing. Lovely calls this advice “antiquated,” noting that in many parts of the country it’s now unrealistic. Instead, she suggests people aim for “more flexible, values-based planning.”

Morgan pointed out that other cost pressures, like the sudden and steep increase in grocery prices, also eat into housing budgets and leave households with far less room to maneuver.

3. Buy a Home as Soon as You Can

Home ownership was once treated as a smart financial milestone, but that assumption no longer holds. Chad Gammon, a CFP, RICP, Enrolled Agent (EA) and owner of Custom Fit Financial, said this has changed “with more mobility … and the mentality that renting isn’t throwing money away.”

With higher prices, transaction costs and more mobile careers, buying too soon — or in the wrong location — can backfire. “Housing costs are on the rise, buying is often more expensive than renting,” Morgan said.

4. Pay Off All Debt Before Investing

Twenty years ago, high interest rates made aggressive debt payoff a clear priority. Today, the landscape is more nuanced. “There are still quite a bit of low-interest-rate student loans and mortgages out there compared to 20 years ago,” Gammon said.

Often, delaying retirement savings or overworking to pay off debt doesn’t make sense today, Morgan said. “You need to consider both your quality of life and requirements for the future.”

To Read More:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/6-money-rules-worked-20-110605228.html

Retirees: 3 Things You Should Remove From Your Will Immediately

Retirees: 3 Things You Should Remove From Your Will Immediately

Choncé Maddox  GoBankingRates   Mon, March 2, 2026 at 11:20 

Many retirees take comfort in knowing they have a will in place. It feels responsible. Organized. Final.

But according to elder law and estate planning experts, having a will isn’t the same as having a good estate plan, and in some cases, an outdated or overly rigid will can actually create stress, conflict and unnecessary costs for your loved ones.

Here are three things retirees should strongly consider removing from their will, and what to put in place instead.

1. Using a Will as Your Primary Estate Planning Tool

One of the biggest mistakes retirees make is relying on a will as their main planning document.

“As an elder law and estate planning attorney who works with retirees daily, I see this constantly,” said Evan H. Farr, a certified elder law attorney and retirement planner at Farr Law Firm.

“Many retirees assume having a will means they’ve avoided chaos, when in fact, they’ve ensured there will be an unnecessary court-supervised process.”

Farr said the issue is probate. Wills must go through probate, which Farr describes as public, expensive and time-consuming. That means:

• Anyone can see the details of your estate.

• Asset transfers can be delayed for months or longer.

• Family disputes are more likely to arise.

Living trusts, both revocable and irrevocable, avoid probate altogether. Wills do not.

“Relying solely on a will creates privacy concerns, delays the transfer of assets and often increases family conflict,” Farr said.

What to consider instead: A living trust can control how and when assets are distributed while keeping your estate private and reducing administrative headaches for your heirs.

2. Distribution Instructions That Leave No Flexibility

Many wills include instructions that seem fair and simple on paper, such as giving children their inheritance outright at a specific age.

But that simplicity can backfire.

“Fixed age distributions undermine the ability to protect assets,” Farr said. “Once assets are transferred outright, they become vulnerable to divorce, creditors, lawsuits, poor financial decisions and even substance abuse or mental health issues.”

In other words, what feels generous today may unintentionally expose your legacy to serious risks tomorrow.

Sean Patrick Malloy, founder and managing partner at Malloy Law Offices, sees similar issues when retirees fail to revisit old provisions.

“A bequest that seemed appropriate ten or fifteen years earlier could shortchange a surviving spouse or force the sale of property the retiree wanted to keep in the family,” he said.

He recalled a case where fixed cash gifts left heirs with no choice but to sell real estate to cover expenses.

What to consider instead: Using a trust structure can allow assets to be distributed gradually, conditionally or with added protections, while still honoring your intentions.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/retirees-3-things-remove-immediately-162016844.html

Any Takers For The Taliban’s New Investment Visa?

Any Takers For The Taliban’s New Investment Visa?

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)   February 23, 2026

Just imagine how tranquil your retirement could be in... sunny Afghanistan!  You could wake up in the morning to the pleasant sound of celebratory gunfire... then artfully dodge landmines left behind by not one, but two different superpower invasions on your way to witness the day’s beheading.

You could cap off the afternoon spelunking through mountain caves where you might bump into actual jihadists, then end the day with a stroll through a war-torn city’s desperate poverty.

If this sounds ideal to you, then you're in luck! The Taliban now offers an investment visa for foreigners to obtain residency in Afghanistan.

This is a real thing; earlier this month, Afghanistan's Economic Commission approved a proposal to offer foreign investors residency permits of up to ten years. Put your money into Afghan mining, construction, or energy, and you too can call Kabul home.

Sure, the banking system is cut off from the international financial network, US sanctions make it effectively illegal for Western companies to operate there, and girls aren't allowed to attend school past sixth grade. The roads, power grid, and water systems are barely functional. And the country has been at war, in some form, for over forty years.

Any takers?

Fortunately the world is a big place, and there are plenty of other options besides Afghanistan.

And while we poke fun at the Taliban, the core concept of obtaining residency in another country is one of the smartest things you can do to give yourself a Plan B.

The logic is simple. If your home country feels like an increasingly unfamiliar place— as a lot of people in the West feel right now— then it makes sense to have a backup... a place you can go, legally, on your own terms, even if borders close or things get weird.

We saw this play out during COVID. When governments around the world slammed their borders shut in 2020. Tourists were locked out— flights canceled, entry denied.

But people who had established legal residency in a foreign country still had the right to enter and stay, just like citizens.

Families who had taken that step years earlier found that they had options— another place to leave the chaos, work remotely from their second home, and wait out the insanity on their own terms.

Those who hadn't were stuck wherever they happened to be, subject to whatever restrictions their local governments decided to impose.

That distinction— tourist versus legal resident— became the difference between freedom and lockdown. Overnight. And this might matter again.

But a second residency isn’t about crises and pandemics..

A lot of people start by simply finding a place they enjoy. They visit somewhere on vacation — Costa Rica, Portugal, Malaysia, wherever— and they love it. They go back a few times. Eventually they start looking at property. Maybe they buy a place and rent it out when they're not using it.

Over time, they realize they've built something more than a vacation spot. They've got a home in a country where life is slower, the food is better, and their money goes a lot further.

And that last part matters more than most people think.

The cost of living in much of the world is a fraction of what it is in the West. A couple living on Social Security and a modest level of savings— money that barely covers the basics in most American cities — can live extremely well in dozens of countries.

We're talking beachfront property, hired help, great healthcare, and money left over at the end of the month.

There are plenty of ways to obtain residency abroad. In some countries, you can become a legal resident by purchasing property— something that you might want to do anyhow.

In Panama, you can become a legal resident by purchasing property for roughly $300,000 — and that buys you genuinely nice real estate in a country where property prices can be $100 to $200 per square foot.

In Europe, countries like Portugal and Greece have set up formal programs specifically designed to attract foreign capital in exchange for residency rights.

There are also plenty of countries that don't even require an investment— where simply demonstrating you have a pension (like Social Security) is enough to qualify.

Other places (like Australia or New Zealand) are looking strictly at skill needs, so younger people with valuable work experience can obtain residency.

Everyone's situation is different. For some people it's a beachfront villa in Central America. For others it's a flat in Lisbon. For others it's a farm in New Zealand. The world is full of options.

The point is that none of this is radical. It's not about fleeing. It's about having the option to go somewhere you actually enjoy — somewhere you might already vacation — and having the legal right to stay there indefinitely if you ever need to.

It's the same logic as any insurance policy. You don't buy fire insurance because you want your house to burn down. You buy it because you'd rather not find out the hard way that you needed it.  That’s what a Plan B is about.

To your freedom,   James Hickman   Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

 https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/any-takers-for-the-talibans-new-investment-visa-154431/?inf_contact_key=940659806dfc6d55317dce1f755e25307c981c2f99e1cf7586cea13df5aa4037

23-Year-Old Inherited $450K, Parked It And Doesn't Know What To Do Next

23-Year-Old Inherited $450K, Parked It And Doesn't Know What To Do Next

What Dave Ramsey says will get the 'most lift'

Emma Caplan-Fisher   Moneywise   Updated Tue, February 10, 2026

When 23-year-old Jackson from New York called into The Ramsey Show, he wasn’t asking how to spend his inheritance. He was asking what not to do with it.   A few months earlier, he and his brothers had sold their parents’ home, leaving him with about $450,000. He had no debt, had just graduated from college, earned about $75,000 a year and was renting with his brother while planning a future move from Long Island to New York City.

Yet instead of feeling empowered, he felt stuck.

 “I’m just wondering what to do with it,” Jackson told the cohosts (1). “I have all of that money … just sitting in a CD right now.”

It’s a familiar reaction. Sudden wealth — especially at a young age — can create decision paralysis.

Large inheritances at a young age are both rare and risky. Without experience managing six-figure sums, many people either spend recklessly or worry about making the “wrong” move, resulting in no move at all.

How freezing can quietly cost you

Parking the money in a certificate of deposit allowed Jackson to avoid impulsive purchases, and was something host Dave Ramsey praised as preventing him from doing "something stupid with it." He even said Jackson was “wise beyond his years” for not spending it.

But Ramsey also warned that letting the money sit too long comes with its own price. Freezing can be just as damaging as rushing, especially when inflation and missed investment years are at play.

Inflation erodes purchasing power, and time — especially starting in your early 20s — is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term wealth.

Ramsey pointed out that if the inheritance were invested at long-term market rates, “it would double in about seven years.” He contrasted that with the low yield of a CD, saying the money “should have made five times as much” over recent years if invested instead.

This matters because young adults don’t just have money working for them; they have time working for them. According to the latest Federal Reserve data, the median net worth of Americans under 35 is just $39,000, compared with more than $364,000 for those aged 55 to 64 (2).

So, a $450,000 inheritance at 23 is a massive head start, but only if it can grow.

Not house money, not spending money

One temptation Ramsey shut down quickly was using the inheritance to buy property in New York City. Even with $450,000, the math doesn’t work, “450 will not buy anything in the city,” he said. “Not paid for.”

Without the income to comfortably support a mortgage, Ramsey argued, tying the inheritance up in real estate would add pressure rather than freedom. The same logic applies to lifestyle upgrades or helping others too aggressively, too soon.

To Continue and Read More:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/23-old-inherited-450k-parked-110000785.html

As Silver Prices Plunge, This CIO Warns That Precious Metals Are Nothing More Than Meme Stocks

As Silver Prices Plunge, This CIO Warns That Precious Metals Are Nothing More Than Meme Stocks

Patrick Sanders   Tue, February 10, 2026

Precious metals have long been seen as a safe haven during any market uncertainty. And as the stock market flashes the occasional warning sign of stress, these commodities have been big winners over the last year. Gold prices are up 77% over the last 12 months, and the price of silver has done even better, rising 153%.

But it’s also noteworthy that both gold and silver stumbled lately. Gold dropped nearly 13% from its late January high before making a mild recovery; silver tumbled 31% from its high of $114 and is now drifting at $80.

That’s why a warning from Hank Smith, the CIO of Haverford Trust, is getting attention these days.  He warns that investors should be cautious about putting money into gold, silver, or any commodity. He says the run higher in 2025 and early this year is more fueled by momentum instead of substance, and investors should instead consider stocks that offer yield, such as dividend stocks.

"Those (commodities) are speculations. They're not investments," he told Business Insider. “Because physical commodities do not have earnings, they don't have an income statement, a balance sheet, they don't pay dividends or interest—you’re buying that with the expectation that someone's going to come along and buy at a higher price. That's the only way you're going to make money.”

Smith has a point—investors should never, ever consider putting all their investments into a single class such as commodities. And while I believe that gold, silver, and even cryptocurrency have a place in a well-diversified portfolio, I agree that investors should have the bulk of their investments in the stock market, looking for yield.

Here are two ways to capitalize on that strategy through exchange-traded funds. Each has a different strategy but is geared toward providing yield through proven strategies.

To Continue and Read More:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/silver-prices-plunge-cio-warns-162551697.html      

Lottery Winner Says Telling Anyone Was the 'Worst Mistake'

Lottery Winner Says Telling Anyone Was the 'Worst Mistake' After 10 People a Day Beg For Money —'Even Had A Therapist Try To Rip Me Off'

Jeannine Mancini   Benzinga  Sun, February 8, 2026

People fantasize about hitting the jackpot — quitting their jobs, ghosting the alarm clock, buying that dream mansion, and never setting foot in a breakroom again. But for one Reddit user, the most life-changing moment of all came with a hard crash of reality.

"The worst mistake I ever made was telling people that I had won the lottery."

That's how their confessional post began on Reddit's confessions forum. Not "I blew it all." Not "I trusted a scam." Just: I told people. That was the mistake.

Seven years after their win, the original poster said they now bring in just under $800,000 a year through annuity payments and investment profits. At first, they expected support, congratulations, maybe a few celebratory drinks. What they got instead? Constant requests — and not just from the people they were close to

A Win Worth $800K a Year — and 10 Daily Requests

"I thought they'd be happy for me," the poster wrote. "They were happy for me for a minute and then they started to ask me for money."

Friends. Family. Coworkers. Even the sister of a coworker reached out, asking for rent help. The calls didn't slow down. "I was literally getting 10 calls a day," they added. One friend asked for $20,000 to buy an engagement ring for a girlfriend who, the poster later found out, was still seeing other people. The generosity didn't seem to buy goodwill — only more expectations.

"I still helped some people," they said, "but I had to cut them off because they were asking me for money only to give it to others or using the money for something different." Eventually, they said, they were spending more on other people than themselves. "People want me to finance their best lives and have the arrangement be exclusively on their terms," they added. "I will never understand why people can't accept one thing without trying to get more."

The Therapist Drove a Porsche. The Winner Drove a Prius.

Just when they thought things couldn't get more absurd, therapy took a turn. "I even had a therapist try to rip me off by asking me for a cash tip after our sessions," the winner wrote.

Then came the detail that sealed it: "He said my insurance company wasn't paying him enough yet he drove a Porsche and I drive the Prius."

That moment wasn't an outlier. It became a symbol of how even professionals — people paid to be objective — shifted their behavior once they sensed the money. "It's ironic that I have more money than I need," the post continued, "yet I can't give it away because it brings nothing but problems."

To Continue and Read More:  https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/lottery-winner-says-telling-anyone-173148077.html

5 Signs That Someone You Know Is ‘Fake Rich’

5 Signs That Someone You Know Is ‘Fake Rich’ (and why it’s killing their wealth). Could you be pretending, too?

Vishesh Raisinghani   Moneywise    Sat, February 7, 2026

Scroll through social media and it’s easy to think everyone is rich and only getting richer. Your favorite influencers are filming videos in luxury SUVs, your friends are on five-star resorts in Bali, and your uncle just made “a fortune” on a new cryptocurrency.

But much of this perceived wealth could be smoke and mirrors. In fact, some of these peers and influencers could be actively undermining real wealth by trying to maintain the façade.

1. Lots of luxury logos

A splashy logo isn’t an asset, but for someone desperate to appear rich it might as well be. From Balenciaga jackets and Chanel belts to Louis Vuitton monogrammed bags, online influencers and social climbers are often covered in conspicuous signals of wealth.

However, many of these mainstream brands are designed to appeal to middle-class buyers. Nearly half of global luxury sales are attributed to this middle-income group, according to Boston Consulting Group data cited by the Wall Street Journal (1).

Genuinely wealthy consumers have increasingly shifted toward lesser-known, exclusive, and niche brands — a movement referred to as “quiet luxury” (2).

Simply put, genuine wealth doesn’t need to announce itself. In fact, very wealthy individuals are often more likely to downplay their affluence. So if you’re tempted to overspend on a specific logo, it may be worth reconsidering.

Read More: The average net worth of Americans is a surprising $620,654. But it almost means nothing. Here’s the number that counts (and how to make it skyrocket)

2. Bragging on social media

There is so much conspicuous consumption and wealth flaunting on social media that it’s leaving many Americans feeling financially left behind.

Gen Z and millennial users are particularly susceptible to this phenomenon, often described as “money dysmorphia,” according to a 2024 Credit Karma report (3).

However, genuinely wealthy families tend to view social media as a potential data privacy and security risk, according to JP Morgan (4). Publicly flaunting wealth online can make individuals more attractive targets for cybercriminals, which is why many high-net-worth individuals choose to keep a low digital profile.

With that in mind, accounts that openly boast about their multiple millions and private jets are more likely promoting questionable products or services than reflecting genuine affluence. The best move is to scroll past.

3. Disproportionately expensive cars

A general rule of thumb is that expenses related to your vehicle shouldn’t exceed 20% of your monthly take-home pay, according to Patrick Roosenberg, senior director of automotive finance intelligence at J.D. Power (5).

To Continue and Read More:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/5-signs-someone-know-fake-120000122.html