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| Stat Of The Day |
| 1 in 3 |
Who needs a desk when you’ve got a duvet? A new survey shows 1 in 3 remote workers admit they’ve taken meetings from the comfort of their beds. Even bolder? 1 in 6 have dialed in from the bathroom. For remote workers, multitasking truly knows no bounds. |
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| Moody’s, Mortgage Rates And Bananas? Let’s Talk Recession Indicators. |
Lately, recession chatter has been hard to ignore. Just a few weeks ago, credit-rating giant Moody’s downgraded the United States’ credit rating. Suddenly, we’re all asking: What does this mean for my money? My credit cards? My mortgage? My job? Should I reconsider buying that house or upgrading my car?
And, because it’s 2025, no economic convo is complete without a few offbeat recession indicators – a spike in lipstick sales, banana prices and yes, even Lady Gaga dropping a new album.
So, what’s actually worth paying attention to? What’s just noise? And how should we be managing our money right now? Katie Klingensmith, Chief Investment Strategist at Edelman Financial Engines, joined this week’s HerMoney Podcast to help us sort through it all.
As she explains, the technical definition of a recession is generally two straight quarters of shrinking GDP. But, for most of us, a recession feels less like a data point and more like a mood – one that lately has been shaped by inflation, job market worries and economic whiplash.
“It’s really hard for us, I think, as economists, but also as households, to know what the world's gonna look like in six months,” Klingensmith shares. “I think from a personal perspective, it’s always emotionally helpful, but also rational to be a little bit more conservative. The last six months have been a reminder that things can go way up and way down.” |
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| Inflation’s High. Rates Are Dropping. Here’s One Smart Way to Stay Ahead. |
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With inflation still nibbling away at your savings and interest rates on the decline, it’s more important than ever to make your money work smarter — not harder. This National Annuity Awareness Month, we’re spotlighting a platform that delivers exactly that: Gainbridge®.
The Gainbridge® platform offers simple, flexible annuities with guaranteed returns and no hidden fees. No sales pressure, no fine print — just secure growth on your terms.
Whether you're planning for retirement or building a smarter safety net, Gainbridge® can empower you to take control of your financial future with confidence. Are you curious how annuities work? Check out trusted resources like What Is an Annuity? and Annuity Misconceptions: Fact vs. Fiction to learn more.
Now’s the time to explore guaranteed growth — explore the Gainbridge® Platform today! |
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| This Week In Your Wallet |
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Think you could live to 100? You just might…and it’s time to start planning like you will. Recent research shows a healthy female retiree has a 13% chance of joining the centenarian club. “When you plan for retirement, experts say, you should plan for every scenario, including the one in which you live to 100,” reports USA Today. But exactly how do you do that when a “normal” retirement is already so expensive? A few key moves: Work with a financial advisor, run your numbers with a retirement calculator and yes, consider working a little longer. “A Stanford University study found that delaying retirement by just three to six months has the same impact on retirement savings as raising your 401(k) contribution rate by a full percentage point for 30 years,” notes USA Today.
✍ P.S. Another strategy to add to that list: Our special pre-retirement session of FinanceFixx kicks off June 11th and it’s specifically designed to help you figure out if you’re really on track to retire. Just a few spots are left, and you can reserve yours here!
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) already offer a pretty sweet deal, thanks to their triple tax advantage. But they might get even better under changes proposed in the GOP’s tax bill, as The Wall Street Journal reports. “In particular, the changes address glitches that have prevented many older taxpayers from having HSAs. They also simplify confusing HSA rules and allow previously prohibited uses, such as using funds from the account to pay for gym memberships,” the WSJ notes. (Ahem, tax-free Lifetime Fitness or Equinox membership?!) It’s estimated that 60 million Americans are currently covered by HSAs. The legislation could expand access to 20 million more, according to HSA Consulting Services.
No degree? No problem. With many high school grads skipping college in favor of traditionally blue-collar careers or trades, we’re diving into how to land high-paying jobs without that pricey diploma. Hannah Maruyama, founder of Degree Free, a community that helps people find good jobs without the diploma, says one of the keys is knowing how to search for apprenticeship opportunities. “I want people to get on Google and search the job title and then on-the-job training, plus your location,” she suggests. “So this could be on-the-job welding training, Savannah, Georgia, or this could be a software development apprenticeship, Chicago. It could be anything.” The right search terms can open doors you didn’t know existed — and help you build a solid, well-paying career without the student debt. |
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| Things That Save You Money |
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| Ask Jean |
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Today’s question comes from Ellen. She writes: In April, I received the latest of many data breach notices. I froze my credit a few years ago. Should I use the free monitoring service they offer for two years? Also, should I take advantage of a free conversation with a fraud specialist? Lastly, should I file a police report about the incident? |
| A: |
Data breaches are, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common. Recent statistics show that in 2024, there were 3,158 data compromises in the U.S., impacting 1.35 billion individuals.
The good news? If you’ve already frozen your credit, you’ve taken the most important first step. “Kick it up a notch by placing a fraud alert on your credit report,” suggests Lisa Gill, an expert with Consumer Reports. “Do this by contacting any one of the three credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion,” she shares, noting that when you initiate a fraud alert with any one of the bureaus, they must notify the other two. “The alert will last for a year, and when it expires, renew it if you’re still feeling at risk.”
Gill also recommends signing up for free credit monitoring services. This, she explains, “will scan activity that shows up on your credit reports, and can notify you if a company attempts to check your credit, if a loan is attempted in your name, or if a company is reporting a late payment that isn’t yours.” And, if you’re offered access to a fraud specialist as part of the package? As long as it’s free, it’s worth using.
Lastly, the police report. That’s only necessary after actual identity theft occurs, not just a data breach. If that happens, Gill says you should start by filing a report with the FTC, here. “After that, take the report with you when you file at the police department, and a copy when you contact any banks, credit card companies, or lenders to help close any accounts you did not authorize,” she adds. |
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| Submit your questions to Jean here. |
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| More For You To ♥ |
☔ It’s Gonna Be May. The S&P 500 just wrapped up its best May in 30 years. We hate to break it to you, but if you’re still sitting on the sidelines when it comes to investing, you’re missing out. Learn how to get started with InvestingFixx, our women-only investing club, where we make growing your wealth fun. Our next meetup is June 9th, and we have a seat reserved just for you!
⭐ A new podcast series…starring YOU! The HerMoney Podcast is launching “A Week In Her Wallet,” and we want you to be part of it. We’re looking for women who are game to track their spending for one week – every single latte, grocery run, Amazon splurge and all the purchases in between. Once you’ve tallied everything up, you’ll join HerMoney CEO and podcast host Jean Chatzky for a fun, judgment-free chat about what your week of spending says about your life and your relationship with money. Want in? Fill out this form. We absolutely can’t wait to hear your story!
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