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On October 25, 1956, Southdale Center opened its doors and changed more than just shopping—it reimagined how Americans lived, connected, and sought out new experiences. This week’s “History Lessons” digs into how the first suburban, climate-controlled mall launched a boom, sparked innovations in retail, and planted seeds for future disruption—all with lessons directly tied to building smarter portfolios and businesses today. In this video, you’ll discover:

✅ Why solving for lifestyle change—not just a “better product”—is the engine of breakthrough innovation

✅ How greater access inevitably raises the bar for value, experience, and relevance (in retail and investing alike)

✅ The risk of sticking too long with yesterday’s formula for success—anchor bias can turn a winning streak into a stumble

✅ Why every boom contains the seeds of its next big disruption—and how tuned-in investors can prepare for what’s coming next Whether you’re building a portfolio, a business, or just watching shifts in how we all connect, the lessons of the mall era still matter: spot needs as they evolve, stay nimble, and never stop reimagining what real success means as the world moves forward.

👇 Watch now for this week’s history-backed strategies—and hit subscribe for fresh insights every Monday! #investing #investor #history #shoppingmall

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How to Avoid the Most Common ETF Mistakes—And Why (As I Told CNBC) Simplicity Still Wins

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become go-to building blocks for both novice and seasoned investors, but as ETF options explode—and their marketing grows more complex—so does the list of easy-to-make mistakes. CNBC’s latest analysis spotlighted classic ETF missteps, from chasing hot performance and niche themes to overcomplicating portfolios with overlapping funds and hidden costs.

🎯As I told CNBC for their article, the #1 trap I see is investors buying last year’s winners or trendy ETF flavors, rather than focusing on true diversification and clarity of purpose. “It’s easy to think more funds equals more safety, but piling on new ETFs—especially sector, thematic, or leveraged varieties—often leads to costly overlap without adding real protection,” I shared. Instead, I advise clients to look for a clear, evidence-backed strategy and to regularly review their positions for unintentional duplication or style drift. Simplicity, transparency, and alignment with your actual goals almost always win in the long haul.

The article also emphasizes another key lesson: not all ETFs are created equal. Beyond chasing performance, investors often overlook the tax implications, underlying indexes, trading liquidity, and expense ratios that can quietly eat away returns—or amplify risk—in ways mutual funds or individual stocks might not. As ETF innovation accelerates, a disciplined, back-to-basics portfolio review is more important now than ever.

Bottom line:

Don’t let the sheer variety of ETFs—or the hype around their rapid growth—trick you into unnecessary complexity, higher expenses, or concentrated bets masquerading as diversification. As I reminded CNBC readers, “The best ETF portfolio is usually the one that’s easiest to understand and hardest to second-guess during market swings.” Stick to your plan, revisit your holdings, and never be afraid to prune for clarity and efficiency.

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🎯Patrick Huey is a small business owner and the author of three books on history and finance as well as the fictional work Hell: A Novel. As owner of Victory Independent Planning, LLC, Patrick works with families and non-profit organizations. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and an Accredited Tax Preparer. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. Patrick previously served as a Naval Flight Officer from 1996-2005, earning the Strike Fighter Air Medal during combat operations and two Navy Achievement Medals. 👉🏻 Reach him at 877-234-8957 or schedule a time to talk using the link above.

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