Futures point to a mixed open as "Wall Street is coming off a strong performance last week, with the S&P 500 soaring nearly 6%." - CNBC

U.S. markets were closed due to Good Friday; the March jobs report showed a strong rebound from February’s weak numbers.

The "noise" can make you do dumb things.

It'll make you try & time the market. It'll make you look at "investments" you never would have looked a before.

But when it comes to investing in stocks for the long term, the key is to focus on the words "long term".

Stay the course.

Wall Street is coming off a mixed session: The Nasdaq and S&P 500 declined Monday (now 9% off its closing high), while the Dow registered a small gain.

U.S. gasoline prices have surged above $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years.

Markets look to open lower as ongoing conflict in the Middle East keep investors concerned.

Nasdaq now in correction territory down more than 10% from it's October record high. Dow off 9% from it's high and S&P 500 currently around 7% lower.

There's no denying the incredible talent that professional athletes across all sports show when they take the field, court, ice, etc.

But that doesn't mean they are financially literate and in control of the massive wealth they accumulate.

I'll talk about this on Sunday.

Futures point to the markets giving back all of yesterday's gains and oil prices move higher as the U.S. and Iran continue to lob threats at each other.

Meta and YouTube found guilty of negligence in social media addiction trial.

Tax season is upon us and it's estimated that the average 2025 tax return will be about $3,676.

What are you doing with that money?

Lease a new car OR contribute to Roth IRA?
Go on a vacation OR pay off high interest debt?
Add to your sports betting account OR HYSA?

U.S. markets gave back some of its gains from Monday but futures are rebounding this morning on report of possible U.S./Iran peace plan.

Treasury yields and oil move lower.

Pet ownership in the U.S. isn’t a niche category.
It’s mainstream American life.

Total U.S. pet spending reached $157 Billion in 2025.
Average annual spending per pet owner hit $2,000 per household.

97% of pet owners consider pets family members.

Money well spent?

Markets brushed off Iranian state media reports contradicting Trumps claim that "productive conversations" were ongoing sending averages up 1%.

Brent Crude Oil back above $100 a barrel after dropping 11% on Monday.

What would your life look like if money was no longer a source of stress?

Iran pushes back on Trump's claim of "productive" talks.

Futures were pointing to a lower open before Trump social media post claiming Iran U.S. have been holding conversations.

Oil, Gold and Silver move lower. Ten year treasury note had hit it's highest level since July 2025.

More Americans out of work for longer periods of time.

Everyday expenses still high; insurance, gas, food.

College grads struggling to find jobs.

Credit Card debt at all time highs.

Home affordability is at lows.

Grocery prices not dropping.

I'm getting concerned.

Iran war sends oil soaring with Oil prices rising as much as 3% on Thursday; Gulf facilities burn and Hormuz supply lines stay disrupted.

Broader indices dropping while energy stocks rally. Inflation fears back on the table.

Dow Jones hits lowest level of 2026; closed below its 200-day moving average as Iran war intensifies and fears of inflation persist.

Brent Crude oil trades shy of $120 a barrel; Gold and Silver trade lower.

"Dow futures bounce 350 points to start the week as oil prices fall back to $95 a barrel" - CNBC

Shares of Meta (Facebook) higher as rumors circulate they plan to layoff over 20% of their workforce.

Getting a college education is one of the most important financial decisions in your life. However, more Americans are rethinking higher educations value.

Recent surveys show two thirds of Americans feel that they can find a well-paying job without attending college.

Agree?

Mixed close on Wednesday as the Dow dropped 289 points, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq inching out a 0.08% gain.

Futures currently pointing to a lower open.

Oil continues to climb higher as foreign ships were struck in the Persian Gulf overnight.

Stock futures rise as oil prices inch back toward $90 mark.

Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. will get its first oil refinery in 50 years located at the port of Brownsville in Texas backed by India's Reliance Industries.

Stocks make huge reversal after initial drop: the Dow had fallen nearly 900 points at its session low, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropped as much as 1.5% each before stagging a rally that saw the Nasdaq settle 1.38% higher, the Dow gaining 239 points and the S&P 500 up 0.83%.

Dow futures fall 590 points, or 1.2%, rebounding from earlier losses of more than 1,000 points.

Oil traded near $120 a barrel in overnight session; major Middle East producers slashed their output due to conflict.

U.S. orders staff to leave Saudi Arabia.

Global markets continue to see volatility as geopolitical uncertainty worry investors.

The Nasdaq remains 4.8% off of it's all time highs while the Dow Jones is off 2.9% and the S&P 500 is off 1%.

Spain rejects White House claim it agreed to cooperate.

Stop reading, learning and planning but never doing.

This applies to everything in your life.

Finances, hobbies, relationships, traveling, etc.

Are you afraid to take action?

"Vanguard data shows 6% of workers in 401(k) plans took hardship withdrawals in 2025, up from 4.8% in 2024 & double the pre-pandemic average, with a median amount of $1,900. Reasons included preventing eviction or foreclosure & paying medical bills."

This number grows in 2026.

Markets in a headline-watching state of volatility.

WTI Crude Oil flirts with $78 a barrel on Tuesday as Iran conflict continues.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump’s 15% global tariff will be implemented this week.

WTI Crude Oil now hitting $77 a barrel rising +38% since the December 2025 low.

Futures tumbling Tuesday morning after the market "staged a massive comeback on Monday", with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq erasing steep losses to close slightly higher.

Geopolitical escalation sends Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq tumbling while Gold, Oil and the Volatility Index spike higher.

U.S. and Israel attacked Iran over the weekend killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Wholesale prices rose at a faster-than-expected pace in January up 0.8%; Dow futures lower by 500 points.

Netflix pulls bid on Warner Bros. Discovery deal. Shares up 8% pre-market.

10-year Treasury yield falls below 4%.

Markets posted a strong gain Wednesday with the tech heavy Nasdaq leading the way up 1.3% and the S&P 500 higher by 0.8%.

Nvidia posted a fourth-quarter earnings and revenue beat but shares relatively quiet pre-market.

We all have the ability to create the lives we want.

When it comes to personal finance, our decisions, both big and small, create whether or not we get to experience the positive financial life we want.

Doesn’t mean we wont make mistakes and suffer setbacks along the way.