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Don’t fret the bad financial news: America remains the land of opportunity

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Don’t fret the bad financial news: America remains the land of opportunity

Half of Individuals surveyed in a current Gallup ballot stated their monetary scenario is worse as we speak than a yr in the past.

The pollsters say it’s probably the most unfavorable studying for the reason that Nice Recession.

One other reported solely 10% of US adults say they’ve excessive confidence within the nation’s banks and different monetary establishments.

This comes on the heels of beautiful financial institution failures, creeping inflation beneath assault by Federal Reserve insurance policies which might be giving Wall Avenue the vapors, unprecedented tech-sector layoffs and a dramatic reminder that cryptocurrency remains to be nothing greater than a sequence of digital ones and zeros.

Does all this imply America is now not a nation of alternative?

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Is the period of individuals from across the globe coming to our shores — with their work ethic, concepts and a basic religion in themselves and our nation — over? 

Whereas the monetary headlines counsel the “bears” have us on the run, I might argue that chance powered by a free and aggressive enterprise atmosphere stays the unbreakable cornerstone of America’s future.

This entrepreneur and creator has private expertise with the facility of America.

Born on the Greek island of Nisyros, I used to be 6 months previous when my household immigrated to New York Metropolis, settling in Harlem. 

Writer John Catsimatidis is the proprietor of the Gristedes grocery retailer chain.
Patrick McMullan by way of Getty Photographs

I started working at age 14 making keys and mixing paint in a ironmongery shop for 90 cents an hour. 

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I needed to take driving classes then, however they have been $28 an hour, an inconceivable sum of money.

The ability of being an entrepreneur in my adopted homeland grew to become instantly obvious to me.

I might have adopted a unique profession than the course I in the end selected.

Working nights in a grocery retailer, I studied engineering at New York College however, six credit quick, I left to reply a much more highly effective calling: alternative.

My eggman, Aaron Goldberg, advised me about an empty retailer down the block on 87th Avenue. 

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Supermarket
With greater than half of Individuals claiming they’re in a worse monetary scenario than a yr in the past, it’s probably the most unfavorable studying for the reason that Nice Recession.
Anthony Behar/Sipa USA

I purchased it, and it grew to become my first grocery store.

Grateful for my alternative in a nation that welcomes exhausting work, I needed a company identify as American as apple pie. I made a decision to name it Pink Apple. 

Laborious work over the subsequent 5 years led to 10 shops and, a lot to my quiet amazement, the invention I had grow to be a millionaire on the age of 25.

To me failure was by no means an choice. 

I knew I used to be accountable for my very own future and my very own future as a result of in America the horizon is barely restricted by your individual imaginative and prescient.

I seized the chance to develop and study. Success breeds success and confidence.

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Federal Reserve Board building
A ballot revealed solely 10% of US adults say they’ve excessive confidence within the nation’s banks and different monetary establishments.
Getty Photographs

With each profitable enterprise, I grew to become extra prepared to hunt different challenges in numerous sectors and industries.

These Individuals who’ve misplaced religion on this land of alternative want to understand that each individual’s profession roadmap is exclusive.

However there are primary constructing blocks relevant to each entrepreneur.

If you wish to succeed, it’s important to be revolutionary and set targets.

Once I began within the grocery-store enterprise, for instance, I made a decision to open the shops on Sundays to be extra aggressive.

That call was an enormous success and a defining second for Pink Apple.

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You have to search out a number of mentors who’re profitable and can give steerage and recommendation that can make a distinction in your life.

In constructing these relationships, search allies in surprising locations and suggest mutually useful concepts.

Keep in mind to deal with prospects, suppliers and enterprise associates with respect and gratitude, no matter their place in life.

Be sure to have correct administration and a strong monetary construction, so you possibly can transfer to one more enterprise alternative safe within the information you’ve gotten left your unique enterprise correctly managed.

That requires you to rent individuals who know greater than you do and encourage them to do their jobs.

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I stay an unabashed cheerleader of American capitalism: It nonetheless gives the newly arrived immigrant and the Mayflower descendant with an equal alternative to realize wealth even at a time when banks are harassed and Wall Avenue stays a day by day curler coaster.

I devoutly consider in America and the entrepreneur who powers the financial system, sparks innovation and creates jobs for many who search their share within the American dream.

The monetary headlines can proclaim what they’ll — my cash is on the way forward for America.

John Catsimatidis is CEO of Pink Apple Group, which operates New York’s Gristedes grocery chain, and creator of “How Far Do You Wish to Go?”

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Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq fall after Christmas break

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Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq fall after Christmas break

US stocks fell Thursday as trading resumed after the Christmas holiday, as Wall Street digested one of the only economic data points of the week.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) was down 0.3% while the the tech-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) declined 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) lost 0.4%, leading the way down.

Meanwhile, bitcoin (BTC-USD) slumped, falling below the $96,000 level as volatile trading continued. Crypto-linked stocks like MicroStrategy (MSTR) tracked the declines.

Markets looked to be struggling in a bid to extend the start of the “Santa Claus rally,” which kicked off with a bang on Tuesday. All three major indexes rose around 1%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) are within striking distance of their records after clawing back gains from a Fed-fueled dive last week.

As Wall Street saunters back from its holiday break, the normally routine release on weekly jobless claims took more of a spotlight than usual, as the only piece of the jobs puzzle on the docket this week.

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Labor Department data released prior to the market open showed weekly jobless claims fell to 219,000 compared with expectation of 223,000. However continuing claims surged to 1.19 million in the week ending December 14 to the highest level since November 2021, in a sign the labor market may be cooling.

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Former Finance Manager of Historic Sotterley Charged with Embezzlement of $15,000

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Former Finance Manager of Historic Sotterley Charged with Embezzlement of ,000

Angela Marie Hanson, 52, of California, Maryland, has been indicted on charges of embezzlement and theft following allegations of financial misconduct during her tenure as Finance Manager for Historic Sotterley, Inc. According to court documents, Hanson is accused of stealing nearly $15,000 over a five-month period from October 31, 2023, to April 15, 2024.

Hanson, who oversaw financial operations at the historic property, is scheduled for her initial court appearance in the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County on January 13, 2025. She faces a felony charge of theft scheme involving $1,500 to $25,000, a misdemeanor embezzlement charge, 50 counts of theft between $100 and $1,500, and 17 counts of theft under $100.

Authorities allege that Hanson misappropriated funds using a debit card linked to Historic Sotterley’s “Museum Shop” account. Over 50 ATM withdrawals and several unauthorized purchases were reportedly made at local businesses, including gas stations and convenience stores.

Court filings claim Hanson also transferred funds between Historic Sotterley’s accounts to conceal her activities. Investigators allege that Hanson continued these actions even after her employment ended in February 2024.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, which included reviewing banking records, witness testimony, and surveillance footage. Historic Sotterley’s Executive Director identified Hanson as the only individual with access to financial systems and administrative rights during the period in question.

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Investigators state that surveillance footage shows Hanson conducting ATM withdrawals using the organization’s debit card. When questioned by law enforcement, Hanson acknowledged managing Historic Sotterley’s finances but denied any intent to defraud.








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The Secret to Making Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions – NerdWallet

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The Secret to Making Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions – NerdWallet

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.

The start of a new year can bring a surge of motivation around setting new goals, including financial resolutions.

One way to help those goals become reality, financial experts say, is to make them as specific as possible. Then, track your progress, while allowing flexibility for unexpected challenges.

“It’s easier to track progress when we know where we are going,” says Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner and founder of The Financial Grove in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

That’s why she encourages her clients to set clearly defined goals, often related to paying off a specific debt, saving a certain amount per month or improving their credit score.

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Here are more tips from financial experts about crafting 2025 financial goals:

Pick your top priorities

Trying to accomplish too much can feel overwhelming. Instead, pick your priorities, says Cathleen Tobin, CFP and owner of Moonbridge Financial Design in Rhinebeck, New York.

She suggests focusing on those big, often emotionally-driven goals to find motivation.

“It’s more compelling than just a number,” she says. For example, do you want to make sure you’re on track for retirement or save money for a house? “Start there.”

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Be as specific as possible

Scowcroft says she sees clients get tripped up by selecting overly broad goals, such as “get better with money.” Instead, she encourages people to select specific action items, such as “sign up for a budgeting tool and set aside time each month to learn where my money is going.”

That level of specificity provides direction so you know what steps to take next, she adds. For example, if your top priority is to become debt-free, then your specific goal might be to pay off an extra $200 of your debt balance each month.

Tobin says labeling savings accounts so they correspond with goals can also help. An emergency fund could be named something like “Peace of mind in 2025,” so you remember why you’re saving every time you make a transfer.

“It’s more motivating than just ‘emergency fund,’” Tobin says.

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Get more financial clarity with NerdWallet

Monitor your credit, track your spending and see all of your finances together in a single place.

Track your progress

Measuring your progress as the year unfolds is also a critical component of successful goal setting, Tobin says.

She compares it to weight loss. If you want to lose 20 pounds by June, then you need to lose about a pound a week for the first six months of the year. Similarly, she says it helps to break savings goals into microsteps that specify what you need to do each week.

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Schedule a weekly or monthly check-in with yourself to make sure you are meeting those smaller goals along the way. You might want to review your debt payoff progress or check your credit score, for example.

“Being able to break it down into steps that can be done each week or twice a month really helps,” Tobin says.

Automate where you can

If your goal is to save more money, then setting up an automatic transfer each month can help turn that goal into reality, as long as you know you have the money in your checking account to spare.

“It reduces the mental load,” says Mike Hunsberger, CFP and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning in St. Charles, Missouri, where he primarily supports veterans and current members of the military.

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He recommends starting small to ease into the change.

“I wouldn’t jump to double what you’re currently saving,” he says. For example, when it comes to saving in a retirement account, if you’re starting with a 3% contribution, you might want to bump it up to 4%, then slowly increase it from there.

“My number one piece of advice is to start small, but make sure you scale over time,” Hunsberger adds. “Because it’s gradual, you probably won’t notice it impacting your lifestyle.”

Adjust as needed

“Stay flexible,” Scowcroft says. “Part of it is just being kind to yourself and not being too rigid.”

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When unexpected challenges come up, such as a big unplanned expense, you might have to pause making progress on your goal and reset.

You might even need to change your goal. Scowcroft says that doesn’t mean you “failed,” just that life changed your plans. Dwelling on any negativity won’t help your forward progress.

Team up with a friend

Sharing your goals with a friend can also make it easier to reach them, Scowcroft says.

“It really helps to have an accountability buddy,” she says.

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She suggests putting a regular “money date” with your friend on the calendar so you can ask each other how you’re doing, brainstorm any challenges or even budget together side-by-side.

“It’s a fun excuse to meet up with a friend.”

Get more financial clarity with NerdWallet

Monitor your credit, track your spending and see all of your finances together in a single place.

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