[{"publishDate":"2024-11-18","visibility":"true","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When it comes to investing for retirement, there are many options available. 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And you don’t need to pull out the scissors and open the Sunday newspaper anymore. The mobile app Flipp will help you scour flyers for local grocers to find the best sales and coupons in your area.","_key":"bfa5e30b2034"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1f50b9e33827"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36c4ff8452e8","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Beware of bulk","_key":"37842524133f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": In many cases, buying more of an item can result in some significant discounts. But this isn’t always the case. 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And the trend seems to only be getting more troubling as time goes on.","_key":"025b743a06e7"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7c69ba9af1f0"},{"_key":"1af3674ab07b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Following the data","_key":"d94d4e6443e90"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"94847f55e630","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently released a new report showing how much credit card debt the American population currently owes … and the numbers are staggering:","_key":"bce3b13d06ab0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"576278110de4","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Outstanding credit card balances have reached a record-high of ","_key":"23a83a72b6940"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"about $1.14 trillion","_key":"6287d0403da9","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f205028e3d1e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Per customer, that comes out to ","_key":"76437370e5770","_type":"span"},{"text":"roughly $6,329","_key":"ba3fccfce178","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — or nearly ","_key":"55b82215869c"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"5% higher","_key":"74b533b29dc7"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" than last year","_key":"a4f2a0925933"}],"level":1},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Over the course of the past year, ","_key":"58add087a27e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more than 9%","_key":"1d0636f0a301"},{"_key":"4cd7dcec4754","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of those balances became delinquent"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"04378f5bed11"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b95170d2b39b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"41acd78822510","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Unfortunately, this means too many consumers are getting caught in a spiral that can seem impossible to escape. And once those credit cards reach their limit, there usually aren’t many good options for additional financial assistance."}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c48ac244b26e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Looking for a way out","_key":"3cc52cfb747c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"50f11a0fd6a3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"TransUnion executive Michele Raneri said that the staggering increase in credit card debt is “a pretty good indicator that ","_key":"eabeb26cee620","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"people are stretched","_key":"6320d06730a7"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”\nAnd even though an early spike in debt was largely attributed to “revenge spending” after COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted, the past couple of years seems to have been fueled by necessity rather than desire.","_key":"640008b14b60"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d3faa3452d9b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The current credit card charges somewhere ","_key":"a25ac1ca50a50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"around 20% interest","_key":"57676e5ef038"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", so if you’ve been adding to your balance it’s pivotal to start chipping away at it wherever possible.","_key":"8484d9d93cd0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bd575e5f6457","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Steps you can take to achieve this goal include obtaining a lower-interest personal loan to pay off your balance or transferring your debt to another credit card.","_key":"ebbb1f490be50"}]}],"title":"Tracking The Rising Rate Of US Credit Card 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Even the youngest kids can learn lessons about how money is a limited resource and buying things requires people to make choices about how to use that resource.","_key":"64a52d0eb338","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0ec0220095dd","listItem":"bullet"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Help make a plan:","_key":"48e148f273e50"},{"_key":"d877b1986d82","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" As kids get close to their teenage years, it’s time to start teaching the importance of investing and planning for the future … from saving for a big purchase like a car or putting money away for college."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3d5aca31fa5d","listItem":"bullet"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Lead by example:","_key":"812aa016ae8f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" In the end, kids tend to replicate the models they’re given during childhood. So parents are advised to demonstrate their own financial decisions and have open conversations about the topic whenever appropriate.","_key":"004b2a54a63b"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"95c75db38b52","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"6831a5caa457","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Parents might not be able to rely on the education system to provide all the information their children will need to be financially literate, but communication at home can at least ","_key":"e7459d2504890"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"provide the foundation necessary","_key":"3c057f55d972"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to avoid some of the pitfalls that ensnare so many adults of all ages.","_key":"124771eaabc3"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}]},{"body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"b0c67e1053af","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/42-people-avoid-looking-checking-201512632.html","_key":"ae741ea8677a"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In an uncertain economy and after years of post-pandemic inflation, it’s only natural that finances have become a particularly stressful subject for millions of Americans. More than two-fifths of U.S. adults say they purposely ","_key":"6d2d6855002a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["ae741ea8677a"],"text":"avoid","_key":"6d2d6855002a1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" monitoring their checking accounts due to fear about what the result will be.","_key":"6d2d6855002a2"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your financial health.","_key":"e2f48d8891de0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"708b4d7c758e"},{"style":"normal","_key":"fa7dcf34ffcc","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Average vs. median","_key":"7446166b32010","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b5d6dc1094ed","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You might feel a little better about your situation when you consider what the typical American’s checking account balance is.","_key":"f4a334bc90de0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Overall, as of October, the checking accounts of American households had an average balance of $16,891 but a median balance of ","_key":"2faba812723b0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"just $2,800","_key":"49e487f8a5ca"},{"_key":"d297d3208dcf","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4bb8a11bd161"},{"children":[{"_key":"7d1b99eedb750","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The reason the average (total divided by number of account holders) is so much higher than the median (amount at which half of the population has more and half has less) is due to the impact of a minority — about 13% — with "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more than $50,000","_key":"126349ade466"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in their checking accounts.","_key":"498f87cdf6c8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"11d795e47ed6","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"As you might imagine, balances tend to increase as Americans get older, and here’s what the average and median balances look like for various age groups:","_key":"fc2fe27ec5410","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"90f0a99f9576"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Under 35","_key":"be18ceba07750","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": $7,355.53 and $1,600","_key":"ec4022025588"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ed815103f6b3"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"35-44","_key":"272a013fcab80"},{"text":": $15,309.92 and $2,500","_key":"48bcd5b71c59","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3ec6380d0067"},{"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"45-54","_key":"870b11d74d3d0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": $20,155.22 and $3,400","_key":"888454d856fd"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"63f7193284f8","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"55-64","_key":"bffdeb9ba78f0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": $17,515.35 and $3,500","_key":"0298bf01ed69"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"da7c5a333379","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"65-74","_key":"bfaee04e7a470"},{"text":": $24,408.76 and $3,100","_key":"230c330f5066","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"55a019feb35b","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"70c02668d0ab","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Over 75","_key":"1dc3068f90cf0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": $19,517.14 ad $3,300","_key":"5c255f0f6312"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Face your fears","_key":"e2f5c3bfd3d20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"77a1b9b38489","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"745e14fbad56","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you dread looking at your checking account, you’re in good company. 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2%","publishDate":"2024-07-09","category":"finance","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_id":"09227f53-cbfd-43d1-a05e-98d09a06b553","summary":"It takes a lot of money to reach that level, but maybe not as much as you think.","_updatedAt":"2024-07-08T20:53:44Z","_rev":"wgf4wxLbDH3384a4nHLX9i","visibility":"true","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Regardless of how we might personally feel about the actions of the wealthiest individuals among us, most of us at least occasionally wonder what it would be like to join their ranks.","_key":"5aceb4921be10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"57520d33ef88"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And while the so-called 1% (those with a net worth greater than 99% of the population) are in an especially rare group, a recent ","_key":"2cc4dfc12fe20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["4a1322a6e268"],"text":"study","_key":"2cc4dfc12fe21"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" showed just how much money you’d need to be considered part of the top 2%.","_key":"2cc4dfc12fe22"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e9acee6527c6","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rich-enough-join-top-2-151354677.html","_key":"4a1322a6e268"}]},{"_key":"fc8956021a3c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"2a1a34679d7f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Spoiler alert: It’s still a lot"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"You’re not going to get there by working a typical 9-to-5 job and sticking some cash in a savings account every payday. 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And it’s a heck of a lot lower than the $11.6 million you’d need to break through to the 1%."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3bfda9545b6c","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"48b350e6abde","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What does ‘net worth’ mean?","_key":"12261fc5f0cc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Financial terms can be a little nebulous to many folks, but “net worth” is one that gets used quite a bit. 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A recent ","_key":"01cf61ce30b40"},{"_key":"01cf61ce30b41","_type":"span","marks":["d33c1dffb342"],"text":"survey"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" from New York Life, however, revealed otherwise.","_key":"01cf61ce30b42"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Priorities change with each phase of life, from getting through college to caring for a family to setting money aside for retirement.","_key":"2210acf85b8b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"985034e867c5"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a3da2dfd9161","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And despite current economic headwinds, one generation in particular is ","_key":"4bf369a7fa0a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"doing pretty well ","_key":"a268501bb9fe"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"when it comes to saving money.","_key":"a5cf75aaf604"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"670eae32721b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Millennial domination","_key":"680d627217180"}]},{"children":[{"_key":"9157357358750","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Every individual’s situation is unique, so it’s usually not a good idea to compare your nest egg to that of others. But it might be beneficial to take"},{"_key":"6e21cdd97bf1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a broad look at the habits "},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of similar age groups.","_key":"144a28201575"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2c618a37778b","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Starting with the oldest generation included in the recent report, here’s how much those groups saved, on average, during 2023:","_key":"683b8cc81d850"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"995c509bab4e"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7e38b328950e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Baby Boomers","_key":"75c8a304a4720"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (born between 1946 and 1964): ","_key":"69d761175784"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"$4,059.72","_key":"20369140fb0a"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c704a3034ab3","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Generation X","_key":"450870cb9e870"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (born between 1965 and 1980): ","_key":"73e3d30a3f72"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"$5,132.20","_key":"12dec84205a0"}],"level":1},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"37fa3c9c956a","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Millennials","_key":"8f3a5ad1ee4b0"},{"text":" (born between 1981 and 1996): ","_key":"83911a3ad06e","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"$9,299.45","_key":"dc07aebede7d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"level":1},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Generation Z","_key":"f7e71b8713300"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (born between 1997 and 2012): ","_key":"f98b42ed6428"},{"_key":"9c60acd6d4fd","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"$6,440.67"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"52c0753ac877"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Millennials seem to be crushing it, socking away nearly twice as much last year as the older Gen Xers, who also came in behind the youngest generation on the list.","_key":"c03b385f57590"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"888bff166d55"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"68eb13ff8f2a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Analyzing the facts","_key":"b500e1603fd70"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dcb8b22c7e8e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e2b148ffde8a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Despite the disparity between Gen X and the Millennial generation, the common wisdom remains valid. As people get older and presumably have an opportunity to earn more money, their rate of savings tends to increase."}]},{"_key":"3b78a96f0063","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"What seems to be holding Gen X back, however, is that this generation has the","_key":"f55701ae977a0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" highest amount of average credit card debt","_key":"aaf1dbc73791"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — $9,123 compared to Millennials, who came in second at $6,521.","_key":"380cbfc22a03"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But no matter your age, you can improve your savings status by finding a high-yield bank account, prioritizing debt with the highest interest rates, and eliminating unnecessary expenses from your budget.","_key":"b1591f48d9360"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1abc9faefcd5"}],"title":"The Financial Generation Gap: Comparing Savings Trends Between Age Groups","visibility":"true"},{"summary":"The advice might sound contradictory, but the proof is in the pudding. ","visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_id":"e3beae3c-235a-49bf-b3d2-7f7f4c1f6393","slug":"/story/2024/07/it-might-not-make-you-a-billionaire-but-heres-bill-gates-secret-to-success","id":"tm7ulorO","_createdAt":"2024-07-04T21:01:21Z","_type":"story","title":"It Might Not Make You A Billionaire, But Here’s Bill Gates’ Secret To Success","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For 18 years between 1995 and 2017, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was the wealthiest person on the planet. While he no longer holds that title, he’s clearly not doing too bad for himself.","_key":"7935dda129560"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"176f584b948a"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4bc5bbcfcc42","markDefs":[{"_key":"214fe6ea2c82","_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bill-gates-worlds-richest-man-155055431.html?guccounter=1"}],"children":[{"_key":"acc9297c57410","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And if you want to know some of the "},{"_type":"span","marks":["214fe6ea2c82"],"text":"tricks","_key":"acc9297c57411"},{"_key":"acc9297c57412","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" he’s used on his way to billionaire status, you’re in luck."}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Optimism + Pessimism = Success","_key":"3a2042e87adb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"37aa8983f14d"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s a simple, if seemingly counterintuitive, equation that Gates says has been the foundation for his ability to accrue so much wealth over the course of his life.","_key":"d3555a21af170"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e3c3f1706114","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"45379fcaf2570","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Essentially, it breaks down to knowing when to see the glass as half full and when to say it’s half empty. "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"When you’re saving money","_key":"3d8726b7d35f"},{"marks":[],"text":", expect the worst. ","_key":"1c6d9d5b3482","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"When you’re investing","_key":"66473453a36f"},{"text":", expect the best.","_key":"712098a402d1","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e316e61ab621"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c613154a2b9f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Gates ran Microsoft this way from the beginning, providing him both the safety net that a pessimist demands while leaving open the possibility for huge gains than an optimist would expect.","_key":"3a57b0f6c0b60"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"05787dcc1e21","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Even if you’re not in charge of a massively profitable tech giant, you can implement the same tips in your own finances.","_key":"6d7463d4845d0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"0a8db328fc6c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How to get started","_key":"38e564ce9b730"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"3c7618157482","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It might take some time to get there, but starting down the road toward financial independence and prosperity starts with a game plan. 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But that doesn’t mean these older Gen Xers are destined for destitution in their old age.","_key":"90ddb3ce520e0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"0be28573ecab","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gen-xers-began-financial-independence-173202273.html?guccounter=1","_key":"2707d3f4f1dc"}],"children":[{"_key":"9c1d41d4880d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There’s an entirely "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"new class of financial late bloomers","_key":"ea976e437569"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" who are figuring out what it takes to secure a comfortable (or even early) retirement. And they’re ","_key":"fe4501d79d83"},{"_key":"9c1d41d4880d1","_type":"span","marks":["2707d3f4f1dc"],"text":"sharing"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" what they’ve learned with the rest of us.","_key":"9c1d41d4880d2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b90176fb11eb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Better late than never","_key":"fbee3f8c9e7a0"}]},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"A trio of individuals who didn’t start investing in their retirement until at least their 40s recently recapped the steps they’ve taken to shore up as much cash as possible ahead of the retirement. 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","_key":"0f18727015ab0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"It’s not easy","_key":"cf1b54618243"},{"_key":"93b7db31ca79","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". We can always find things that we’d rather spend the money on today than save for this thing that’s going to happen in 10 or 20 or 30 years.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f7c08094a266","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"10ecd7756dc70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But retirement savings is an important part of life … and failing to prepare can lead to tough choices later in life. There are some solutions available, though."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b1072ad2ad66"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Getting back on track","_key":"c70c3c4c28fe0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"002c96a65d05"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Even if you’re in this situation, it’s never too late to start saving. 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But it’s not just inflation, interest rates, and a possible recession that ","_key":"fdf35d4a99e80"},{"_type":"span","marks":["4d901c2899c4"],"text":"fuel","_key":"fdf35d4a99e81"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" the market shifts we’ve seen lately.","_key":"fdf35d4a99e82"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a82523bd27d0","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/were-roaring-kitty-gamestop-posts-163200184.html","_key":"4d901c2899c4"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0097e9fde728","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Listen to the roar","_key":"b91fdf8d8b390"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"c0fa798da729","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You might have heard the term “meme stock” bandied about over the past couple of years, and the impact on the prices of such shares can be rapidly boosted as a result. Essentially, the concept boils down to one or more influential social media users encouraging investors to buy shares of a particular company’s stock, thus inflating its value — at least on paper.","_key":"890200337e370"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"eb962f188981","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And one name has become synonymous with the movement: Roaring Kitty. That’s the handle used by Keith Gill, whose","_key":"052f9b61ab9a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 1.4 million X followers","_key":"6a799e3f3e1e"},{"text":" can alter the direction of stocks based solely on his sometimes cryptic posts.","_key":"1d6547c488d9","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"75ffed743ace","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After a lengthy drought on the platform, Roaring Kitty began posting again a few weeks ago. As a result, GameStop (the mother of all meme stocks) ","_key":"99c1071844380"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"surged by 74.4% in one day ","_key":"2a94dfe2ddfd"},{"text":"and added more than 60% the next.","_key":"7b848a28d4c7","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9689839d7f01","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Days later, Roaring Kitty revived his Reddit account with a batch of screenshots that pushed GameStop shares even higher.","_key":"771b14ac76690"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"e4bf271e8610","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"6202f129028a0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A legal gray area"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Roaring Kitty has been a driving force behind GameStop’s against-all-odds Wall Street rally for years. While there’s been lots of stock value generated as a result, skeptics say it’s all a facade — and some believe Gill might even be skirting the law in his bid to make others (and himself) richer.","_key":"515085dc4bd80","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eaf1ad5285b9"},{"children":[{"text":"A former Securities and Exchange Commission prosecutor said ","_key":"8a7e41d6e3860","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"2de02a4862b6","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the agency might be interested in investigating the posts"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", but any charges would hinge on being able to prove that Gill was actually the person who published them and that he did so to mislead investors so he could profit.","_key":"a1dc84403a36"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"29d1420de3b4","markDefs":[]}],"title":"‘Meme Stock’ Momentum: Is The GameStop Buzz Legit Or Potentially Illegal?","_createdAt":"2024-06-06T18:37:44Z"},{"body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f2890557903b","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/03/business/economy/new-car-deals-incentives-interest-rates.html","_key":"ea2ffe22a5e6"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A combination of inflation, pent-up demand, and supply chain interruptions sent the cost of both new and used vehicles soaring during the post-pandemic period. 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About To Get Easier To Determine If You’re Paying Too Much For Internet Service","category":"finance","visibility":"true","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"slug":"/story/2024/04/its-about-to-get-easier-to-determine-if-youre-paying-too-much-for-internet-service"},{"_id":"a3cdb5f7-6f37-45af-9a4a-a42ac9cc4f38","category":"finance","body":[{"_key":"ba365d354235","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We’ve reported on some of the massive jackpots up for grabs in multi-state lotteries like Powerball — including the recent","_key":"cd44e546945b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 10-figure grand prize","_key":"53b67ec7bb3b"},{"text":" that marked the game’s fifth-largest 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And too often, it’s the poorest Americans who fall "},{"_key":"37766d601c251","_type":"span","marks":["c080ad88629d"],"text":"victim"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to the allure of the seemingly harmless habit.","_key":"37766d601c252"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"371fb8a74ee7"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Lotteries by the numbers","_key":"eff79ea24bc30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1b3e2f119bd9"},{"style":"normal","_key":"3a0df6472db0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you want to truly understand what the average lottery player is up against, let’s take a look at the hidden statistics involved in the deceptively simple act of potentially handing out a billion-plus-dollar jackpot:","_key":"ef32392c29f70"}],"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e48c946685ca0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"45 states and the nation’s capital "},{"_key":"7f156ea1cb81","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"currently have some form of lottery."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"47a5b0d6845a"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Last year, Americans spent","_key":"06e0ad89a8200"},{"text":" a whopping $100 billion","_key":"5fc823f77ade","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":" on tickets.","_key":"d44b016242dd","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"be4fe40917a1","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The U.S. lottery is more profitable than","_key":"cfff45fac1600","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" all but eight ","_key":"6103966233b1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of the world’s countries.","_key":"a493f3602b3a"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ddbddc0bc102"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d3f304f90c30","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And your odds of winning the Powerball? A paltry","_key":"1eda872063300","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 1 in 292 million","_key":"c7404b9ec388"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"eb16d92f27fc"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_key":"b4de0975bf25","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"c7683ce87a0d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But, you might say, isn’t it all for a good cause? After all, proceeds typically support education or other social programs."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nevertheless,","_key":"3975288112340"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" lotteries keep about 30% ","_key":"454b17632707"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of the revenue they receive, or three times as much as the typical casino. That means almost everyone who plays ultimately loses.","_key":"06d225582f88"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2050f0182840"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"515657d4c200","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Some lose more than others","_key":"1309c40f9e060"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Data regarding who spends the most on lottery tickets revealed a troubling truth. 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