The Oscars is arguably the biggest night in film, one of the most celebrated awards shows in the world. As Hollywood honored the best in cinema, it made me think about how movies can do more than entertain. Similar to what I wrote before about The Lord of the Rings, this article explores five critically acclaimed films from past Oscars that not only captivated audiences but serve as a masterclass in financial literacy. Whether it’s understanding economic crises, learning how to invest wisely, or recognizing the dangers of greed, the movies discussed below offer an engaging way to build and…

If you are mapping out your wealth goals for the year, developing the right strategy to earn, save, and invest can seem daunting. If you haven’t yet, it’s a good idea to take the time to create an annual goal for your wealth and a plan that documents how to get there. With the right tools, technology can do much of the heavy lifting, whether creating a budget, maximizing tax savings, growing your stock portfolio, or even adding strategies like equities trading or real estate investing into the mix. To streamline and enhance your wealth building in 2025, here are…

A new poll shows strong public approval for a proposed DOGE Dividend check—a potential one-time payment to tax-paying households that would be funded through cost savings from the Department of Government Efficiency. Poll Finds 7 In 10 Americans Support A DOGE Dividend Check The survey, conducted by J.L. Partners on February 24-25 among 1,001 registered voters, found that there was “overwhelming cross-party support” with 67% of Americans backing the proposal and 46% strongly supporting it. Notably, “One in four Democrats and almost half of independents say receiving the dividend will make them more likely to vote for a Republican congressional…

In Istanbul’s 560-year-old Grand Bazaar, where traders have haggled over treasures for centuries, an unlikely financial shift is taking shape. Between stalls of handwoven carpets and aromatic spices, merchants are now transacting in USDT and USDC, bypassing banks and borders with a tap on their smartphones. “Today, I accept payment in stablecoins from customers worldwide, instantly and with minimal fees,” explains a textile merchant. He pulls out his smartphone, revealing a digital wallet where dollar-pegged tokens flow as freely as tea in the surrounding cafes. “It’s faster, cheaper, and more reliable than traditional banking,” he explains, requesting anonymity. “Everyone from…

The Leveraged Crypto Bet Ahead of Trump’s Strategic Crypto Reserve Bombshell A cryptocurrency whale took a high-stakes bet on Bitcoin and Ethereum just before President Donald Trump announced the creation of a strategic crypto reserve. It paid off spectacularly. Mere hours before Trump made the announcement, an anonymous trader opened a 50x leveraged long position on BTC and ETH with $4 million on margin​. As crypto prices surged on Trump’s news, the trader closed the position, netting over $6.8 million in profit​. The timing was fortunate, and the bet was structured with little downside protection, making some wonder if it…

The Trump administration’s Department of Education has effectively halted enrollment in four popular federal student loan repayment plans that offer borrowers affordable payments and a pathway to eventual student loan forgiveness. And as the scope of the department’s actions becomes clearer, borrowers are already starting to be impacted. In response to a court ruling in February that extended an ongoing injunction blocking the department from moving forward with the SAVE plan, an income-driven repayment plan launched by the Biden administration in 2023, the department took down online and paper applications for all IDR plans. IDR programs – which include Income-Based…

Apple, FedEx and Oracle all got loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. But rules and red tape keep many banks from making SBA loans. Chris Hurn aims to change that. By Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes Staff Small Business Administration loans are a great deal. They are federally guaranteed, profitable for banks, and a boon to both entrepreneurs and the overall economy (some 20% of the American labor force is employed by companies with fewer than 20 employees). But bankers hate to make them: There are 9,000 federally insured banks and credit unions in the U.S., yet only 1,452 of them…

Entrepreneurs and professionals often focus on hard skills, strategies, and market trends to achieve financial success. However, recent research suggests that emotions and money mindsets play a significant role in shaping financial well-being. My study titled Personal Emotions and Family Financial Well-Being: Applying the Broaden and Build Theory found that emotions influence household income and net worth beyond traditional factors, like education, income, or age. The Link Between Emotions and Money Traditional thinking suggests that financial success leads to happiness. However, my research flips the script: positive emotions may actually drive financial well-being. The study, based on a sample of…

My wife, Mika, and I took a survey this week about our approach to money. The survey asked us to respond to a number of statements by noting on a continuum whether we agreed or disagreed, ranging from -5 (“I strongly disagree”) to +5 (“I strongly agree”). For example, here is a sampling of the prompts: “If I work hard, I have the right to play hard.” “The more money I have in savings, the more secure I feel.” “Financial success or failure has a lot to do with luck.” There were 12 questions like that, and then things got…

The Education Department Memo To Student Loan Servicers The Education Department has instructed student loan servicers to stop accepting and processing all student loan forgiveness applications for three months, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. The loan servicers – including MOHELA, Aidvantage, and Nelnet – manage student loans on behalf of the Education Department, including collecting payments, processing applications, and providing customer service. The memo directs loan servicers “to stop accepting and processing all income-driven repayment and consolidation applications for three months.” It informs servicers that the hold could be extended beyond three months or potentially end…