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Smart Money Weekly: Issue 01
Your 5-Minute Guide to Staying Ahead in Money, Markets, and Mindset
RASHIDA HERBERS
August 13, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Good Morning Money Movers! Welcome to the inaugural edition of Smart Money Weekly! This issue is packed with quick insights, real world money moves, and a few stories to keep your wallet sharp and your mindset inspired. Whether you are growing your investments, paying down debt, or just trying to make smarter daily choices, you will find something here to help you level up.
⚠️ Goldman's Inflation Warning: The Calm Before the Storm ⚠️
Tariffs haven't sent prices soaring yet, but Goldman Sachs says companies are about to stop eating costs and start passing them to you. Their forecast? Inflation jumps back above 3% if tariffs stick around.
Trump just gave China a 90-day extension, kicking the can down the road.
Why it matters: Your grocery bill's grace period might be ending—time to budget for pricier everything.
📈 Markets Snapshot (as of yesterday’s close)
S&P 500: 6,373.45 ▲ 72.31 (+1.13%)
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 44,458.61 ▲ 483.52 (+1.10%)
10-Year Treasury Yield: ~4.29% ▲ 0.02 (+0.47%)
Bitcoin: ~$119,676.30 ▲ $602.05 (+0.51%)
🚀 Top Money Stories
1. Inflation Hits the Sweet Spot 🎯
July inflation came in at 2.7% lower than expected and music to Fed watchers' ears. Wall Street is now 90%+ certain we'll see rate cuts in September. Why it matters: Your mortgage and credit card rates could finally start dropping.
2. BNPL Becomes the New Credit Card Trap 💳
Gen Z is buy-now-pay-later-ing their groceries, but 25% are already missing payments. What started as "just four easy payments" is turning into a debt spiral for young shoppers. Why it matters: Splitting a latte payment doesn't make you financially savvy…it makes you broke in installments.
3. Gen Z Chooses Savings Over Swiping Right 💕
Over half of Gen Z spends $0 on dating, and most cap it at $100/month. Turns out debt paydown is sexier than dinner out. Why it matters: Netflix and chill just got a financial glow up, your future self will thank you.
Gif by groundhogday on Giphy
4. Americans Feel Better (But Still Broke) 📊
Fewer people are struggling with rent and bills according to Ramsey Solutions, but 52% still live paycheck to paycheck. It's giving "I'm fine" energy while drowning. Why it matters: Progress is real, but we're nowhere near financial wellness yet.
5. Fed Rate Cuts Are Basically Guaranteed 📉
Economist Jeremy Siegel says September's rate cut is a done deal, maybe even a chunky 0.5%. He's bullish on AI, utilities, and REITs. Why it matters: Time to dust off those dividend stock watchlists and prep for defensive plays.
🚂 The Inspiration Station
Your Future Self is Counting on You
The market will scare you. It'll crash when you least expect it, surge when you're sitting on cash, and test every ounce of patience you have. You'll want to sell when everyone's panicking and buy when everyone's euphoric.
The most powerful wealth building tool isn't picking the perfect stock or timing the market. It's simply staying put. Every billionaire investor has the same secret: they bought good companies and refused to let temporary noise shake them loose.
Don't.
Your 25 year old self might not understand why you're putting money into something that just dropped 20%. But your 65 year old self will send thank you cards.
Time in the market beats timing the market, every single time. Stay invested. Stay patient. Stay rich.
The compound interest fairy doesn't reward the restless. 🧚
Gif by snl on Giphy
👇️ Partner Break! 👇️
💳️ Get serious about eliminating your DEBT!
🔒️ Gen Z Gets Locked Out of the Good Stuff
Remember when you could buy Apple stock before it made you rich? Those days are dead. The hottest companies, OpenAI and SpaceX are staying private longer, hoarding gains for venture capitalists (VCs) and billionaires who were already loaded.
Gen Z investors are watching from the sidelines as tech giants hit $300 billion valuations behind velvet ropes. By the time they IPO, retail investors pay premium prices for scraps.
The cruel irony? Gen Z starts investing at 19 (vs. boomers at 35) but faces fewer opportunities. Secondary markets need $1M+ net worth to play.
Why it matters: Wealth inequality is now baked into investment access itself, widening the gap for generations. No wonder they're gambling on meme coins instead. 🤷🏽♀️
Break Into The VIP Club: While Gen Z gets shut out of private markets, our partner Fundrise gives you access to the same alternative investments the wealthy use. Start here →
🔥 In Case You Missed It…
🗓️ Free Guide to Save $10k
This free interactive template will help guide you through establishing and tracking your progress. Download your template to guide and track your journey to $10,000 saved! Here you go! ➡️ https://rashidaherberssave10ktemp.netlify.app/