Overall, the economy looks stable on the surface - stock market humming, inflation back to normal, interest rates have softened - but several massive questions still need answered.

What will 2026 bring for AI, interest rates, housing affordability, government debt, and jobs? And what does all this mean for your financial planning?

How does your salary compare? And which industries tend to have the highest pay?
https://flowingdata.com/2025/12/02/who-makes-a-higher-salary-and-the-jobs-they-work/

Trump says the US should be taking a page from Australia's retirement playbook. What might a retirement system overhaul look like?
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/03/economy/superannuation-australia-retirement-trump

A New York high school banned phones and saw dramatic improvements in focus, behavior, and social interaction.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-new-york-public-school-phone-ban-saved-high-school.html

Some of the best investment writing from 2025
https://ofdollarsanddata.com/my-favorite-investment-writing-of-2025/

An interactive visualization that shows just how common your birthday really is.
https://thedailyviz.com/2016/09/17/how-common-is-your-birthday-dailyviz/

Did you know that just 3% of companies account for all the wealth ever created in the U.S. stock market? Or that Costco sells enough toilet paper to reach the moon and back… 200 times? Or that a tiny island with 15,000 people now funds half its government thanks to “.ai” domain names?

Here are 25 surprising facts from 2025. Full list is here from Idea Farm: https://news.theideafarm.com/p/50-facts-from-2h-2025

Career and financial choices top the list of the most anxiety-inducing decisions - far above health or relationships. It’s a reminder that money stress is both universal and deeply emotional.
https://www.popsci.com/health/100-most-dreaded-decisions/

Gold’s big run is grabbing headlines, but should it replace stocks? Why recent gains shouldn’t derail a long-term investment strategy.
https://ofdollarsanddata.com/whats-going-on-with-gold/
For millions, the path to citizenship takes not years but decades due to visa backlogs and country caps. That uncertainty impacts everything: careers, housing, family plans, and long-term financial decisions.
https://usafacts.org/articles/how-long-can-it-take-to-become-a-us-citizen/
Mass manufacturing makes new AC units cheap, but skilled labor and logistics make repairs sometimes more costly than the appliance itself. It’s a lesson in thinking about total cost of ownership, not just sticker price.
https://www.a16z.news/p/why-ac-is-cheap-but-ac-repair-is
Elon Musk’s massive compensation plan only pays out if Tesla becomes an AI/robotics powerhouse worth trillions.
https://sherwood.news/tech/tesla-shareholders-approve-elon-musks-usd1-trillion-pay-package/

President Trump says 50-year mortgages could make homes more affordable for struggling buyers. Is he right? Or would this fix just make the housing problem worse? Let’s unpack what a 50-year mortgage could mean for buyers and the broader market.

Author Morgan Housel’s new book, The Art of Spending Money, argues that the way we spend money matters just as much as how we earn or invest it. And for many of us, the biggest culprit that's killing our budget doesn't even show up in a spreadsheet.

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Spending-Money-Simple-Choices/dp/0593716620

1️⃣ Giving People Money Helped Less Than I Thought It WouldA fascinating look at why direct cash transfers haven’t delivered the long-term results many expected. It’s a reminder that money alone doesn’t fix poverty without education, opportunity, and strong community institutions.https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/giving-people-money-helped-less-than2️⃣ This Social Security "Bridge" Claiming Strategy Delaying Social Security can meaningfully boost lifetime income — and the “bridge” strategy shows how to use savings early to make that possible. Smart timing, not just saving, can make a six-figure difference over retirement.https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/03/this-social-security-claiming-strategy-reliably-lifts-retirement-income/3️⃣ Suze Orman Tells Us the Biggest Retirement Mistake You Can MakeSuze Orman says claiming Social Security early is the biggest mistake retirees make. Patience and proactive planning can dramatically increase your long-term wealth and legacy.https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/suze-orman-tells-us-the-biggest-retirement-mistake-you-can-make4️⃣ Gen Z’s Dividend Investing Boom Gen Z investors are flocking to dividend-paying ETFs for stability and income — a surprising twist for the “risk-on” generation. But dividend investing for young people carries a lot more downside when you consider all the factors.https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-gen-z-dividend-investing-etfs/

Adoption is one of the most life-changing decisions a family can make, and it comes with both financial and spiritual challenges. Bryan Samms shares his family’s adoption story, how they balanced financial planning with faith, and what it means for all of us to align our money with a higher purpose.

You can get Bryan's book "Rescued" and/or the group course here: https://bryansamms.com/rescued/

Here's why I believe the greatest value of financial planning isn’t just in numbers. A real financial planner is someone who understands your values can help you avoid costly mistakes, navigate life’s changes, and find confidence in your financial decisions.

I was recently invited to be part of a conversation with Luke Clayton, Bryan Samms, and Mike Lester to discuss discipleship within the church. How do you structure a group study in a way that engages each person, fosters conversation, and effectively accomplishes the goal of growing people to be more like Jesus? We shared our experience and insights on how we are all trying to equip churches with the right tools for discipleship.