Payments giant Mastercard is eyeing the stablecoin market — but its plans don’t include issuing cryptocurrency. Instead, Mastercard aims to develop the rails on which stablecoins will function, Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president for blockchain and digital assets, told Bank Automation News. “We see our role in [stablecoins] as we look at what we do […]
My thoughts in ONE word on the Air Canada flight attendant strike and government involvement: “WOW!” If you cannot sleep tonight due to your complicated situation, this is my way of staying up with you. You have something to read and feel free to share your thoughts and experience with us in the comment section below!
The post Thoughts on Air Canada Strike and Government Involvement appeared first on Pointshogger.
Each of these companies has robust long-term opportunities.
Warren Buffett remains at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway for a few more months, but his legacy solidifies him as one of the greatest investors of all time.
The Oracle of Omaha made few changes to the Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio in one of his last quarters as its leader, and his favorite stocks remain the anchors. Many of them still offer tremendous opportunity. I think Amazon (AMZN -0.00%), American Express (AXP -0.73%), and Domino’s Pizza (DPZ 0.15%) look like no-brainer stocks to buy today.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Amazon has a huge, multi-pronged business that services individuals and businesses in numerous ways, making it an important player in the economy. It’s coming close to being the largest company in the world by sales, giving it a leg up on any competitor.
E-commerce sales are not usually one of its higher-growth segments, but they were strong in the 2025 second quarter, up 11% year over year. So although the market still seems to be worried about tariffs, so far, they have had the unintended effect of shoppers stockpiling goods early in case tariffs make them more expensive at some point down the line. Although that’s still uncertain, management has pointed out that its selection of products and varied suppliers provide it with strength even if tariffs impact its suppliers from China.
Amazon’s investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics provide it with further ways to speed up deliveries. One example is that AI improved robot travel efficiency by 10%, which over Amazon’s vast network has large-scale effects. It added 1,000 new regions where it offers same and next-day deliveries in the second quarter, and it’s planning on adding 4,000 more.
The major opportunity for Amazon today is in AI through its cloud business, Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS is by far the leading cloud company in the world, and management is investing in developing its AI business to retain that title. It’s releasing its own powerful chips for customers to access AI tools through its Bedrock program, and it’s launching more tools that make it even easier to create robust AI applications.
Then of course there’s advertising, streaming, and Amazon’s other businesses that provide long-term opportunity. Amazon still has a long growth runway, and it’s a no-brainer stock for almost any portfolio.
American Express has a differentiated model that’s fee-based and focuses on an affluent consumer, and that’s led to strong performance despite a pressured economy. Revenue increased 9% year over year in the second quarter, with record cardmember spending. There’s also strong demand for its premium cards, which come with an annual fee and create a recurring revenue stream. It added 3.1 million new cards in the second quarter, with about half of them U.S. consumer cards. Sixty-three percent of global additions were millennials and Gen Z, younger cohorts that will drive future growth, and 71% of new accounts were for fee-based products. Fee revenue increased 20% year over year in the second quarter and accounted for almost 14% of total revenue.
The focus on a resilient, upscale client base along with robust risk management also results in best-in-class credit metrics. Among millennials and Gen Z consumers, past dues were 1.9% versus 4.4% for the industry in the second quarter, and 1.3% for Gen X and baby boomers versus 3.1% for the industry.
The company has a closed-loop model, which means it funds its own credit and it also offers a large array of banking services to its users. That gives it a lot of cash to invest and use to fund its business, and net interest income increased 12% over last year in the second quarter.
American Express is one of Buffett’s oldest stocks, and since Berkshire Hathaway has been selling Apple and Bank of America, American Express now accounts for 15.8% of the portfolio, the second-largest position.
Pizza is a big business, and Domino’s is the biggest pizza company. That’s a feature Buffett appreciates, because when you’re the largest operator in a space that everyone needs (like Coca-Cola or Visa, two of his other stocks), that already gives you an edge. So while Domino’s is fairly new to the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio, it fits right in.
CEO Russell Weiner described Domino’s as having “what we believe are best-in-class unit economics, the largest advertising budget, a robust supply chain, and a rewards program that is bigger than ever.” That builds on its ability to strengthen its moat and keep its dominant position.
There’s plenty of room to grow even at the top. Domino’s has more than 21,000 stores globally, but it’s always adding more. It opened 178 net new stores in the 2025 fiscal second quarter (ended June 15) and more than 600 over the trailing 12 months. But the investments in advertising and the rewards program are leading to higher comparable sales as well. And because pizza is cheap fast food, it’s resilient when there’s inflation. Domino’s has been able to increase prices to offset increasing costs, making sure the bottom line is still strong, too.
Domino’s may not be the highest-growth company or stock, but it’s likely to keep gaining and reward shareholders for years.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has positions in American Express and Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Domino’s Pizza, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has filed a sworn declaration pushing back against Drake’s attempts to force him to provide documents in the rapper’s defamation lawsuit. Grainge describes the artist’s claims in that suit as “farcical” and “groundless.”
In the declaration, filed on August 14 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York and obtained by MBW, Grainge states that he “had never heard the recording ‘Not Like Us,’ nor ever saw the corresponding cover art or music video, until after they were released by Interscope Records.”
Adds Grainge: “Whilst, as part of my role, I certainly have financial oversight of and responsibility for UMG’s global businesses, the proposition that I was involved in, much less responsible for, reviewing and approving the content of ‘Not Like Us’, its cover art or music video, or for determining or directing the promotion of those materials, is groundless and indeed ridiculous.”
“The premise of Drake’s motion — that he could not have lost a rap battle unless it was the product of some imagined secret conspiracy going to the top of UMG’s corporate structure — is absurd.”
UMG’s legal reps
Drake’s legal team had sought to compel UMG to add Grainge as a document custodian in their ongoing discovery battle, claiming the company’s global CEO was personally involved in approving Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us, which forms the basis of Drake’s defamation case against UMG.
However, in a strongly-worded letter to the court opposing Drake’s motion, UMG’s lawyers called the request “a transparent attempt to use discovery to harass UMG and force it to waste time and resources out of spite”.
“The premise of Drake’s motion — that he could not have lost a rap battle unless it was the product of some imagined secret conspiracy going to the top of UMG’s corporate structure — is absurd,” UMG’s attorneys wrote in their August 14 filing.
In his declaration, Grainge directly addresses Drake’s allegations, stating that the claim he was behind a scheme to “devalue” Drake’s brand through the release and promotion of Not Like Us “makes no sense due to the fact that the company that I run, Universal Music Group N.V., has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake, including longstanding and critical financial support for his recording career, the purchase and ownership of the bulk of his recording catalog, and the purchase of his music publishing rights.”
The UMG CEO further explained that he runs “a publicly-traded, multi-billion dollar, multi-national corporation whose operations in over sixty countries covering nearly 200 markets ultimately report up to me”.
“Universal Music Group has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake, including longstanding and critical financial support for his recording career, the purchase and ownership of the bulk of his recording catalog, and the purchase of his music publishing rights.”
Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG
Drake’s first run of classic studio albums – including Scorpion, More Life, Views, Nothing Was The Same, and Take Care – were signed to Cash Money/Young Money Records.
As MBW has previously covered, Universal Music Group confirmed it bought Cash Money catalog , including the Drake recordings, in an investor update in 2021.
Since 2021’s Certified Lover Boy, Drake has owned his modern recordings, released via OVO/Republic.
Grainge’s declaration continues: “Our business encompasses over 100 record labels (as well as a multinational music publishing division, global merchandise and direct to consumer businesses, the worldwide Virgin Music label services, short and long form audiovisual production, and a variety of other businesses), each with its own CEO/President and its own management structure.
“Collectively these businesses issue tens of thousands of releases and product each month. My focus is on developing and implementing the global strategy that will shape UMG for generations to come.
“I further recognize that a frequent strategy of UMG’s litigation opponents is to attempt to waste my and UMG’s time and resources with discovery of the sort that Drake is seeking here — either in an attempt to gain media attention or in an effort to force some kind of commercial renegotiation or financial concessions.”
Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG
“In light of this responsibility, the proposition that I am in the weeds as to the release and promotion of any particular sound recording, from the thousands of UMG releases throughout the world, is farcical“.
Grainge also addressed the pattern of such discovery requests in litigation, stating: “I am accustomed (and unfortunately largely resigned) to personal attacks, and I further recognize that a frequent strategy of UMG’s litigation opponents is to attempt to waste my and UMG’s time and resources with discovery of the sort that Drake is seeking here — either in an attempt to gain media attention or in an effort to force some kind of commercial renegotiation or financial concessions.”
In a separate letter filed the same day, UMG’s lawyers opposed Drake’s demands for extensive financial records, including Interscope CEO John Janick‘s compensation details dating back to 2021, Interscope’s monthly revenues and profits over multiple years, and documents showing the value of Lamar’s recording catalogue since January 2020.
“Drake’s second letter-motion seeks to compel the production of documents responding to certain requests for production,” UMG’s attorneys wrote. “As with his motion concerning Sir Lucian Grainge, this motion is nothing but an obvious attempt to misuse the discovery process to pursue irrelevant and overbroad requests principally calculated to harass, embarrass or annoy Drake’s perceived adversaries.”
The company argued that Drake’s request for John Janick’s private compensation details going back four years before “Not Like Us” was even released fails to meet relevance standards.
“Drake manufactures the basis for such a motive out of thin air, speculating that because UMG’s CEO encourages competition between its record label divisions, UMG’s compensation structure must be a zero-sum game that ‘pitted Lamar’s label against Drake’s label.”
UMG legal reps
“Drake makes no attempt to explain how his intrusive request for five years’ worth of individual compensation records is conceivably relevant or proportional to this case, which centers on the release and promotion of a single track and music video in 2024,” UMG’s lawyers stated.
UMG also pushed back against Drake’s theory that Janick was incentivized to promote Lamar over Drake due to inter-label competition, calling it manufactured speculation.
“Drake manufactures the basis for such a motive out of thin air, speculating that because UMG’s CEO encourages competition between its record label divisions, UMG’s compensation structure must be a zero-sum game that ‘pitted Lamar’s label against Drake’s label,’” the filing reads.
The discovery dispute has also intensified around Drake’s demands to see Kendrick Lamar’s full recording contract with UMG.
Drake’s legal team argues they need the complete, unredacted contract to prove their case that UMG had the contractual authority to prevent the release of “Not Like Us” but chose not to exercise that power.
UMG has produced portions of Lamar’s contract relating to the company’s rights to approve, reject or modify content, but with extensive redactions protecting commercially sensitive information. Drake’s lawyers have complained that the redactions “cover the vast majority of the 22-page agreement” and “render the agreement unreadable and incomprehensible.”
However, UMG’s attorneys argue that Drake “cannot explain why the rest of the contract is relevant” beyond the sections already produced. They contend that full disclosure would reveal “highly commercially sensitive information” in a case where there is “ongoing competition” between Drake and Lamar.
“The ‘ongoing competition’ between Drake and Lamar ‘requires the exercise of additional caution with respect to [the] commercially sensitive information,’” UMG’s lawyers wrote, citing legal precedent.
The filings, obtained by MBW, can be read in full here, here, and here.
The discovery battle stems from Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG filed in January 2025, which replaced an earlier petition against UMG and Spotify that he withdrew in the same month.
In his lawsuit, Drake alleges that UMG “decided to publish, promote, exploit and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous” in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which was released in May 2024 as part of a highly publicized rap feud between the two artists.
Both Drake and Lamar release their music through UMG, with Drake signed to Republic Records and Lamar to Interscope Records. Notably, Lamar himself is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The discovery process in the case began in April after UMG unsuccessfully sought a stay of the discovery process.
UMG has previously dismissed Drake’s claims as “wild conspiracies” and argued that “Drake’s lawyers can also keep seeking to ‘uncover’ evidence of wild conspiracies as to why one song that upset Drake had massive global appeal, but there is nothing to ‘uncover.’”Music Business Worldwide
As physicians, we spend so much of our lives learning how to take care of patients. But when it comes to managing our money? That part’s completely left out of training. And for most of us, by the time we finish med school, residency, and maybe even fellowship, we’re years behind when it comes to building wealth.
So it’s no surprise that one of the most common questions I get from doctors is:
“Should I hire a financial advisor?”
When I first started learning about personal finance, I wasn’t sure either. In fact, I remember reading a bunch of finance blogs where people were adamant that hiring a financial advisor was a bad idea. The main argument was around fees and how they could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over time. That scared me off.
But over the years, my perspective has changed to become a bit more balanced. Let me explain why, and share what I believe doctors should know before hiring a financial advisor.
Most doctors I know are incredibly smart, but when it comes to money, many of us feel behind. We’re busy, often overwhelmed, and the truth is, managing our finances can be the last thing on our minds after a long day at the hospital.
Here’s what I typically hear from physicians considering an advisor:
And honestly, I get it. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. But like anything in life or medicine, it has to make sense, and you need to understand the fundamentals before handing over control to someone else.
I think a lot of people are unclear about what financial advisors actually provide, so here’s a quick rundown.
A good advisor can help with:
But here’s the catch. Not every advisor provides all of these services. Some focus solely on investments. Others might primarily sell insurance. And some work more like coaches, helping you map out your goals and keep you accountable.
So it’s important to know what kind of support you’re actually getting and what you’re paying for.
Let me share a story that really made me pause.
Years ago, I had a conversation with an anesthesiologist who was close to retirement. This was someone who had practiced during the golden years of medicine, when reimbursement was high and schedules were more forgiving.
But when we started talking about retirement, he looked at me and said, “Honestly, I’m not sure if I can retire yet.”
That caught me off guard. I asked what he had done with his money over the years. He told me he managed his own portfolio, but he had spent most of his time chasing hot stocks and the latest investing trends. He didn’t invest in real estate, didn’t build any cash flow, and never developed a plan for retirement.
He had the income, no doubt, but not the strategy. I walked away from that conversation thinking: “Someone like that might’ve done better with a financial advisor from the start.”
That was the moment I realized this whole “you should never hire an advisor” thing wasn’t always the right answer.
One of the biggest concerns around hiring an advisor is cost. And that’s fair. You should know exactly what you’re paying and what you’re getting in return.
Here are the main ways advisors charge:
This is the most common. They charge a percentage of the money they manage for you, usually around 1% per year. So if you have a $2 million portfolio, that’s $20,000 per year. Every year. Whether they actively manage it or not.
Some advisors charge a fixed fee, like $5,000 per year, regardless of how much money you have.
You can also hire advisors who charge by the hour. This is great for one-time reviews or if you just want someone to double-check your plan.
These advisors earn money by selling you financial products like life insurance or annuities. I generally advise caution here. If someone gets paid more for putting you in a specific product, that’s a potential conflict of interest.
In my experience, hiring a financial advisor can absolutely make sense in the right situation. Here are a few examples of when it might be worth it:
There’s also something to be said for peace of mind. Just knowing you have someone helping you navigate your financial life can be a huge relief especially when you’re already juggling so much in your career and personal life.
I’ve seen plenty of colleagues who are incredibly talented physicians but got into financial trouble because they didn’t have a clear plan. One doctor I know lost six figures chasing a speculative tech investment. He admitted later that he didn’t fully understand the risk. A good advisor could’ve helped him think it through, maybe even saved him from making that mistake altogether.
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There are definitely situations where you don’t need to hire one… at least not yet.
In those cases, I usually suggest investing in your own financial education first. Read a few books. Follow blogs and podcasts. Learn just enough to feel confident asking the right questions.
That way, even if you eventually hire someone, you’ll stay in control of your financial life.
If you decide to explore working with an advisor, here are a few key questions to ask:
I asked our partner, Austin Dean from Waystone Advisors, for his thoughts, and he said,
“Look for an advisor who takes the time to truly understand your goals and needs before offering a plan or strategy, not someone who just tries to fit you into their pre-set box.”
Look, a financial advisor isn’t a magic solution. But in the right situation, and with the right person, they can help you avoid major setbacks and build real, lasting wealth.
At the same time, it’s important to never fully check out. This is your life and your money. You don’t have to become a financial expert, but you should know enough to stay dangerous… in a good way.
Because at the end of the day, you’re the CEO of your financial life.
If this hit home and you’re not sure where to start, begin with an audit of your financial setup. Ask yourself:
Ask good questions. Learn first. You’ve worked too hard to leave your future up to chance.
Were these helpful in any way? Make sure to sign up for the newsletter and join the Passive Income Docs Facebook Group for more physician-tailored content.
Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.
Mike Fratantoni is the chief economist and senior vice president of research and business development at Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). He stresses the importance of Fannie and Freddie to the overall industry.
“Obviously, they are critical, providing liquidity to the secondary market, and supporting the provision of affordable housing on both the single-family and multifamily sides,” Fratantoni told Mortgage Professional America. “If you look at numbers, they are maybe half of the origination volume on the single-family side, and about 40% of the multifamily side. They are really important enterprises.”
In 1938, Congress created the Federal National Mortgage Association, better known as Fannie Mae. It was joined in 1970 by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac. This move provided competition and stability in the secondary market.
By the 2000s, the two GSEs had grown into massive companies. However, in the effort to continue to push that growth, excessive risks were taken, which led in part to the housing collapse of 2008. The government was forced to bail them out.
“If you look prior to 2008, they were really quite forces of nature,” Fratantoni said. “They tended to really be pushing to grow the companies and grow their profitability. Over time, they took a bit too much risk, failed in 2008, and had to be rescued by the Treasury. So, $200 billion or so of taxpayer money was put into keeping them solvent, which was successful to the extent that it kept the secondary market open. But they have been in conservatorship ever since.”
Grasshopper Bank announced Aug. 5 it completed a $46.6 million funding round that has sparked growth momentum and new goals. The funding round supports the digital bank’s April acquisition of Auto Club Trust FSB, the banking subsidiary of Auto Club Group — the second-largest AAA club in North America. The deal increased Grasshopper’s asset size […]
🔃 Update: This offer is available again through August 28, 2025.
IHG One Rewards has a new promotion with a bonus on purchased points. You can get a 100% bonus, which means that you can buy IHG points for half a cent each. We see this offer for discounted IHG points every few months. Let’s see how this promotion works.
Purchase IHG One Rewards points and receive a bonus of 100% of the points purchased. That means that you can purchase IHG points for just 0.5 cents each. Members may purchase a maximum of up to 200,000 points during a calendar year.
There is a minimum points purchase threshold on a per transaction basis to be eligible for a bonus. The percentage bonus amount will show for eligible members when they log into their IHG One Rewards account.
BUY IHG POINTS
IHG points have an average value of about 0.4 cents each. Through this offer you’re purchasing them for 0.5 cents a piece, so just slightly above that. The best use of IHG points is to book 4-night stays where you get the fourth night free if you have an IHG One Rewards credit card.
Even though you’re getting these points for half the normal price, you shouldn’t buy them speculatively. Make sure you have a redemption in mind and also check cash prices to see if you would be getting a better deal by booking with purchased points.
These points are sold by Points.com and not directly from IHG, so just use a credit card that earns at least 2% on everyday spending. You can go a step further by purchasing a gift card and earning 5X, then use the gift card for the purchase. You can also try going through a portal to save even more.
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