After years of underperforming the market, Verizon Communications (VZ 0.30%) is one of the bright spots in the tech sector this year. It’s up 24% year to date through March 27.
Those results look even better when you factor in that Verizon is one of the more generous dividend stocks. It has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, most recently to $0.71 for the next quarter, and it has a dividend yield of about 5.6%.
Image source: Verizon Communications.
The announcement of the latest dividend hike came on Jan. 30, 2026, but that wasn’t the biggest news of the day for Verizon, because the wireless carrier also had one of its best earnings reports in years. It reported 616,000 postpaid phone net additions in Q4 2025, its highest quarterly net additions since 2019. Verizon also completed its acquisition of Frontier Communications, growing its fiber access to over 30 million homes and businesses.
Stock market volatility could also be contributing to Verizon’s success. Investors often rotate out of growth stocks into value stocks, including high-dividend stocks, during periods of instability.
Today’s Change
(-0.30%) $-0.15
Current Price
$50.15
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$212B
Day’s Range
$49.74 – $50.53
52wk Range
$38.39 – $51.68
Volume
850K
Avg Vol
32M
Gross Margin
45.79%
Dividend Yield
5.45%
So, is now a good time to pick up shares of Verizon? If your goal is passive income or to balance out a growth-heavy portfolio, then Verizon is worth considering. The recent results are promising, and the dividend provides stable returns. But I wouldn’t invest with the expectation that Verizon will continue to beat the broader market, because that’s unlikely. Wireless carriers tend to deliver modest returns, so periods of outperformance usually don’t last too long.
Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
No direct link to offer, check portal. Might need to visit site with browser extension installed and wait a few days to get the offer to show
Capital One Shopping portal is offering $390 back when spend $650 at Chow Sang Sang
Our Verdict
This is a Hong Kong jewelry brand. They do offer free shipping when you spend ~$500+. Might be also able to stack with any offers the merchant has, but check terms of your specific capital one offer to confirm. It seems that it excludes gold bars, but you still might be able to get a piece that is profitable on the gold content alone.
Things to note with Capital One shopping:
Payout is not cash but giftcards
There is a $80 referral bonus, you can use Chuck’s link here. Full terms of that here.
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Disclaimer:
I’m not a financial advisor. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. For guidance specific to your situation, please consult a licensed professional.
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What was once unimaginable has now become reality. Jerome Powell may have made mortgage rates go down.
I know what many are thinking. This can’t be possible. The Fed chair is a super villain when it comes to mortgage rates.
He raised rates 11 times and made mortgage rates surge higher.
The man defied the President, who had a clear goal of getting mortgage rates back into the 3s or even lower! Or so the story goes…
But it’s true, Powell calmed the bond market and in the process mortgage rates during a Q&A session at Harvard University yesterday.
Powell Says Fed Can Wait and See on Higher Energy Prices
The big headwind for mortgage rates lately has been surging energy prices, namely oil skyrocketing to over $100 a barrel due to the strikes and ensuing conflict in Iran.
Oil prices were in the $60s prior to the unanticipated conflict in late February, and are hovering around $105 today.
That has led to fears of another inflation wave, just as it appeared we were getting over the initial one.
After all, it oil costs a lot more, consumers will face higher gas prices. This has already materialized.
In addition, anything that requires energy/oil in its input costs, which is basically everything, will go up in price.
That all spells higher inflation, which led to a big increase in bond yields over the past month.
That rise in the 10-year bond yield corresponded with higher 30-year fixed mortgage rates, with the benchmark rate rising from 3.95% to nearly 4.50%.
Meanwhile, the 30-year fixed climbed from sub-6% levels at the end of February to roughly 6.625%.
Emphasis on rough because the big rate increase happened at the worst possible time of the year, peak spring home buying season.
However, current Fed chair Jerome Powell seemed to shrug off fears of rate hikes due to the Iranian conflict.
While not surprising to me, it might surprise others who feel Powell is the enemy of low mortgage rates.
During the Q&A session, he noted that “We feel like our policy’s in a good place for us to wait and see how that turns out.”
In other words, the sky isn’t necessarily falling, even though oil prices have gone haywire lately and many expect much higher inflation as a result.
This is classic Powell if you’ve been paying attention. He never reacts haphazardly to anything.
He fully understands this is a fluid situation and can change at any given moment. So for the Fed to all of a sudden hike or cut as a result would be out of character.
As such, it’s going to be the status quo, despite what’s happening.
He did add that “We’re getting now an energy shock: no one knows how big it will be. It’s way too early to know.”
And that’s exactly right. We don’t know yet what the impact will be, just as we didn’t know what the impact would be from the tariffs, which also drove mortgage rates higher temporarily.
Perhaps this situation will be short-lived as well, and thus won’t require Fed intervention.
Weak Labor Market Makes Powell’s Job Easier
One thing making the Fed’s job easier (and Powell’s) is the fact that the labor market isn’t too hot right now.
The Fed’s dual mandate is to ensure maximum employment and price stability.
The price stability piece is in question with the recent surge in oil prices, but the employment piece is another story.
There are plenty of signs that labor is struggling, though it’s not yet in full crisis mode.
The latest data delivered today, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS) report, revealed that job openings are down and hiring is the lowest in about six years.
It’s a low-hire, low-fire environment and workers aren’t feeling too confident to leave their existing job and find new work. Nor are employers keen to bring on new talent.
Powell recognizes this, saying “There’s sort of downside risk to the labor market, which suggests keep rates low, but there’s upside risk to inflation, which suggests maybe don’t keep rates low.”
He added that there is “tension between the two objectives,” which explains the do-nothing approach.
Just wait and see what happens and don’t react without fully understanding the entire picture.
And if you look at Fed rate projections, the odds of a rate hike are now basically minuscule again after jumping last week.
Of course, the Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, but bond traders pay close attention to Fed rate expectations.
Meanwhile, the 10-year bond yield has plummeted nearly 20 basis points (bps) in the past few days, which has led to a mini mortgage rate rally.
And maybe, just maybe, you can thank Jerome Powell for a fair chunk of that.
New tool: Compare offers quickly with my new mortgage rate calculator!
(photo: Federalreserve)
Before creating this site, I worked as an account executive for a wholesale mortgage lender in Los Angeles. My hands-on experience in the early 2000s inspired me to begin writing about mortgages 19 years ago to help prospective (and existing) home buyers better navigate the home loan process. Follow me on X for hot takes.
Each year, the IRS adjusts federal income brackets and thresholds, and capital gains taxes are no exception. Whether you hold stock, real estate, or other capital assets, knowing the correct long-term and short-term rates—and how they might shift—is critical to planning your investments and understanding your tax bill.
We’ll break down the 2026 capital gains tax brackets, highlight the newly released brackets, show you how to calculate your gain, and share strategies to potentially reduce what you owe.
Use the tables, examples, or The College Investor’s Capital Gains Tax Calculator to see exactly where you fall and what changes you need to watch.
Note: This article is updated annually.
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2026 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2026 capital gains tax brackets and rates.
The actual rates didn’t change for this year, but the income brackets did adjust significantly due to rising inflation.
Short-Term Capital Gains Rates
Tax rates for short-term gains are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.
Short-term gains are for assets held for one year or less – this includes short term stock holdings and short term collectibles and crypto.
Long-Term Capital Gains Rates
Just like short-term gains, there are four filing categories: single, married and filing jointly, head of household, and married and filing separately. The amount of taxes paid is based on income.
The brackets adjusted upwards for 2026 due to rising inflation.
Long-term gains are those on assets held for over a year. Below, the percentage of taxes paid are listed on the left with the corresponding income on the right.
Learn More About The 2026 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here is a chart for the 2026 Short Term capital gains tax brackets:
2026 Short Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
10%
$0 – $12,400
$0 – $24,800
$0 – $17,700
12%
$12,401 – $50,400
$24,801 – $100,800
$17,701 – $67,450
22%
$50,401 – $105,700
$100,801 – $211,400
$67,451 – $105,700
24%
$105,701 – $201,775
$211,401 – $403,550
$105,701 – $201,775
32%
$201,776 – $256,225
$403,551 – $512,450
$201,776 – $256,200
35%
$256,226 – $640,600
$512,451 – $768,700
$256,201 – $640,600
37%
$640,601+
$768,701+
$640,601+
Here is a chart for the 2026 Long Term capital gains tax brackets:
2026 Long Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
0%
$0 – $49,450
$0 – $98,900
$0 – $66,200
15%
$49,451 – $545,500
$98,901 – $613,700
$66,201 – $579,600
20%
$545,501+
$613,701+
$579,601+
Net Investment Income Tax (Medicare Tax)
The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) or Medicare Tax applies at a rate of 3.8% to certain net investment income of individuals, estates and trusts that have income above the statutory threshold amounts.
In general, investment income includes, but is not limited to: interest, dividends, capital gains, rental and royalty income, non-qualified annuities, income from businesses involved in trading of financial instruments or commodities and businesses that are passive activities to the taxpayer
Individuals will owe the tax if they have Net Investment Income and also have modified adjusted gross income over the following thresholds:
2026 Net Investment Income Tax
Filing Status
AGI Threshold Amount
Single
$200,000
Married Filing Jointly
$250,000
Married Filing Separately
$125,000
Head Of Household
$200,000
Qualifying Widower with Dependent Child
$250,000
Collectible Long Term Capital Gains Rate
Collectibles held over one year are always taxed at 28%.
Collectibles include gold and silver, art work, rare coins, antiques, and more.
Prior Years Capital Gains Tax Tables
Are you looking for capital gains tax brackets for prior years? Check out the drop down list below, find your year, and you can see the brackets:
2025 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2025 capital gains tax rates.
Here are the short term capital gains tax brackets:
Here are the 2025 long term capital gains tax brackets:
2024 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2024 capital gains tax rates.
Here are the short term capital gains tax brackets:
Here are the 2024 long term capital gains tax brackets:
2023 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2023 capital gains tax rates.
Here are the short term capital gains tax brackets:
Here are the 2023 long term capital gains tax brackets:
2022 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2022 capital gains tax rates.
Here are the short term capital gains tax brackets:
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
10%
$0 – $10,275
$0 – $20,550
$0 – $14,650
12%
$10,276 – $41,775
$20,551 – $83,550
$14,651 – $55,900
22%
$41,776 – $89,075
$83,551 – $178,150
$55,901 – $89,050
24%
$89,076 – $170,050
$178,151 – $340,100
$89,051 – $170,050
32%
$170,051 – $215,950
$340,101 – $431,900
$170,051 – $215,950
35%
$215,951 – $539,900
$431,901 – $647,850
$215,951 – $539,900
37%
$539,901+
$647,851+
$539,901+
Here are the 2022 long term capital gains tax brackets:
2022 Long Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
0%
$0 – $41,675
$0 – $83,350
$0 – $55,800
15%
$41,676 – $459,750
$83,351 – $517,200
$55,801 – $488,500
20%
$459,751+
$517,201+
$488,501+
2021 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2021 capital gains tax brackets. The rates didn’t change from 2020, but the income brackets did adjust slightly.
Here are the short term capital gains brackets:
2021 Short Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
10%
$0 – $9,950
$0 – $19,900
$0 – $14,200
12%
$9,951 – $40,525
$19,901 – $81,050
$14,201 – $54,200
22%
$40,526 – $86,375
$81,051 – $172,750
$54,201 – $86,350
24%
$86,376 – $164,925
$172,751 – $329,850
$86,351 – $164,900
32%
$164,926 – $209,425
$329,851 – $418,850
$164,901 – $209,400
35%
$209,426 – $523,600
$418,851 – $628,300
$209,401 – $523,600
37%
$523,601+
$628,301+
$523,601+
Here are the long term capital gains tax brackets:
2021 Long Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
0%
$0 – $40,400
$0 – $80,800
$0 – $54,100
15%
$40,401 – $445,850
$80,801 – $501,600
$54,101 – $473,750
20%
$445,851+
$501,601+
$473,751+
2020 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2020 capital gains tax rates. The actual rates didn’t change this year, but the income brackets did adjust slightly.
Here are the short term capital gains tax rates:
2020 Short Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
10%
$0 – $9,875
$0 – $19,750
$0 – $14,100
12%
$9,876 – $40,125
$19,751 – $80,250
$14,101 – $53,700
22%
$40,126 – $85,525
$80,251 – $171,050
$53,701 – $85,500
24%
$85,526 – $163,300
$171,051 – $326,600
$85,501 – $163,300
32%
$163,301 – $207,350
$326,601 – $414,700
$163,301 – $207,350
35%
$207,351 – $518,400
$414,701 – $622,050
$207,351 – $518,400
37%
$518,401+
$622,051+
$518,401+
Here are the long term capital gains rates and brackets:
2020 Long Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
0%
$0 – $40,000
$0 – $80,000
$0 – $53,600
15%
$40,001 – $441,450
$80,001 – $496,600
$53,601 – $469,050
20%
$441,451+
$496,601+
$469,051+
2019 Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Here are the 2019 capital gains tax rates.
Here are the short term capital gains tax brackets:
2019 Short Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
10%
$0 – $9,700
$0 – $19,400
$0 – $13,850
12%
$9,701 – $39,475
$19,401 – $78,950
$13,851 – $52,850
22%
$39,476 – $84,200
$78,951 – $168,400
$52,851 – $84,200
24%
$84,201 – $160,725
$168,401 – $321,450
$84,201 – $160,700
32%
$160,726 – $204,100
$321,451 – $408,200
$160,701 – $204,100
35%
$204,101 – $510,300
$408,201 – $612,350
$204,101 – $510,300
37%
$510,301+
$612,351+
$510,301+
Here are the 2019 long term capital gains tax brackets:
2019 Long Term Capital Gains Tax Brackets
Tax Bracket/Rate
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
0%
$0 – $39,375
$0 – $78,750
$0 – $52,750
15%
$39,376 – $434,550
$78,751 – $488,850
$52,751 – $461,700
20%
$434,551+
$488,851+
$461,701+
What Are Capital Gains?
When you sell a stock for a profit, you realize a capital gain. Basically, when most assets are sold for a profit, a capital gain is generated. Profits or gains are taxable. How much you’ll pay depends on a number of factors, including the current tax brackets, which change periodically.
Personal assets and investments are called capital assets. This includes your home, car, investments, recreational vehicle, and more. IRS Topic Number 409 covers these items in more detail. A capital gain or capital loss is based on the difference between the asset sale price and your adjusted basis, which is referenced in IRS Publication 551.
Calculating Capital Gains and Losses
While you can have a capital gain from the profitable sale of an asset, you can also have a capital loss from the sale of an asset below your purchase price or adjusted basis.
As an example, say you buy and sell stock in the same year up to November. Your trading has netted $10,000 in profits. These profits are classified as short-term gains because they’re less than a year old. Then in December of the same year, you sell more stock for a loss of $3,000. Your capital gain is reduced to $7,000.
A different investor buys and sells some stock during a year and manages to lose $5,000. This investor has a capital loss of $5,000 but can only declare $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) for the current year. What happens to the remaining $2,000?
The $2,000 capital loss in the previous example is carried over to the next year. It can be applied as a capital loss. Using another example, our investor has a capital gain of $10,000 in the next year. They can offset this gain and reduce their taxes by the amount carried over from the previous year: $2,000. Their new capital gain is then $8,000.
With capital gains, your capital gain is stacked on top of other ordinary income before the bracket and rate is calculated. This does leave some planning opportunity to try and minimize the taxes paid, but given the 0% bracket is relatively low, it likely means your gains will extend into other brackets.
While at the marginal level, capital gains are flat taxed – in practice, your gain can be subject to different tax rates depending on the amount of the gain. You can see this in the tax brackets section above. If you are single and make a $45,000 capital gain on top of your $40,000 in ordinary income, your long-term capital gains tax bracket is 15%. You will then pay $6,750 ($45,000 x 0.15) in taxes on this gain.
However, if you’re single, and have no other income other than your $45,000 capital gain, your first $40,000 would be in the 0% bracket, and the remaining $5,000 would be taxed at 15%.
If this sounds confusing, check out our Capital Gains Tax Calculator and Estimator.
How to Reduce Your Taxes
Nobody likes paying taxes and everyone is looking for ways to reduce them. There are a few ways that you can reduce your capital gains taxes.
Keeping Investments for at Least a Year
If you hold investments for at least a year before selling, you’ll be able to take advantage of long-term gains.
Use a Robo-Advisor
Robo-advisors have become very popular. While they haven’t yet replaced financial advisors, for most people, they can help save on taxes.
Robo-advisors use a method called tax-loss harvesting. By selling losers, gains on winners are offset. Of course, you can perform tax-loss harvesting manually. However, robo-advisors make this task easy through the use of automation.
It seems there is nowhere to hide from taxes. But arming yourself with knowledge about capital gains taxes can help you save money. We’ve already seen a few practical tips. Your accountant is likely to have more. Ask your accountant questions throughout the year so you can set yourself up for maximizing capital gains tax reductions.
Common Capital Gains Questions
Q: What counts as a long-term vs short-term capital gain?
A: If you hold an asset (stock, real estate, etc.) for more than one year before selling, it qualifies for long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, 20%). If held for one year or less, gains are taxed as ordinary income (short-term).
Q: How does the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) factor in?
A: If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds certain thresholds ($200,000 unmarried, $250,000 married filing jointly, etc.), you may owe an additional 3.8% on net investment income (including capital gains).
Q: Can my capital losses offset gains?
A: Yes. Capital losses first offset capital gains (short-term vs long-term matching). If losses exceed gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) of the excess against ordinary income. Any remainder carries forward.
Q: Are collectibles taxed differently?
A: Yes — long-term gains from collectibles (e.g. art, rare coins, antiques) are taxed at a maximum 28% rate, regardless of your income level.
Q: If my ordinary income is low, can I qualify for the 0% long-term rate?
A: It’s possible. If your total taxable income (ordinary income + gains) stays under the 0% bracket threshold for your filing status, then your long-term gains may be taxed at 0%. But once you cross that threshold, the excess moves into the next bracket (15%).
Q: When should I sell to minimize taxes?
A: It depends on your income level, timing, and strategy. Sometimes it makes sense to wait for a year so gains qualify for long-term treatment; other times to harvest losses to offset gains. Always factor in your current year’s income, upcoming changes, and state or local taxes.
Q: Will Congress change these brackets mid-year?
A: It’s possible, though rare. If tax laws change (due to new legislation or budget acts), we’ll update this page. Watch the top of the article for update notices.
Q: How do I estimate my capital gains tax liability?
A: Use a capital gains tax calculator or worksheets with your projected income + gains. Input your filing status, tax brackets, and apply the relevant rates, then layer in NIIT if applicable.
Editor: Ashley Barnett
Reviewed by: Ohan Kayikchyan Ph.D., CFP®
The post Capital Gains Tax Brackets And Tax Tables For 2026 appeared first on The College Investor.
Star Alliance officially welcomed ITA Airways as its newest member. ITA Airways marked its entry into the Alliance during a ceremony held at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3.
Starting April 1, ITA Airways will be fully connected into the Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport, served by 17 Star Alliance members collectively, with more than 1,150 destinations worldwide. Customers travelling across the network can now benefit from through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access to Star Alliance lounges, creating a more seamless customer experience, in and out of Italy.
ITA Airways, which flies over 16 million customers every year, adds more than 350 daily flights to the Alliance network, supported by a strong domestic and regional footprint. The addition expands travel options across Italy and Europe, while improving connectivity between Southern Europe and key international markets.
As part of its membership, eligible customers can enjoy priority services, lounge access across the Alliance network, and reciprocal frequent flyer programme recognition, including earning and redeeming miles. Star Alliance Gold customers will also have access to ITA Airways lounges in Rome, Milan and Catania.
With the addition of ITA Airways, Star Alliance now comprises 26 member airlines, offering more than 17,500 daily flights across a global network spanning over 190 countries.
As Donald Trump searches for an exit from the Iran war, the narrow Strait of Hormuz increasingly looks like a labyrinth in which the commander-in-chief has no good options.
Any ceasefire or U.S. disengagement that cedes control of the strait risks creating new problems, including potentially triggering a nuclear arms race among Gulf states, experts say. But taking control of the strait militarily requires massive costs and risks, including a strategic invasion that comes short of occupying the country. Trump said March 31 he wants to leave Iran in two or three weeks, hours after he vented against allies to “go get your own oil!”
Continuing with the status quo, meanwhile—in which the U.S. and Israel pound Iranian targets, while Iran charges multimillion-dollar tolls to let select ships pass through the strait—could send the global economy into a recession.
“If this goes on for another two months, we’re in a global recession. There’s no way around it,” Jim Wicklund, a veteran oil analyst and managing director at the PPHB energy investment firm, told Fortune, arguing the U.S. is staring down the barrel of a credit crash and sky-high inflation.
Even a slight opening of the strait would bring only temporary relief. Oil and natural gas prices may fall as more traffic flows through the strait, but they would remain much higher than in February before the U.S. and Israel initiated the war, especially if Iran continues to charge a $2 million toll per vessel. “The whole world won’t stand for a long-term toll,” said Wicklund. “There will be a higher risk premium even if the strait opens tomorrow.”
The U.S. must either put “boots on the ground” to take control of the narrow strait—through which 20% of the world’s oil, liquefied natural gas, and petrochemicals pass—or achieve some kind of truce that’s unlikely to last, he said. “Trump has to do something, and he has to do something soon.”
Bob McNally, former White House energy advisor under George W. Bush and founder of Rapidan Energy Group, took it a step further if the U.S. were to walk away without militarily seizing control of the strait.
“That would be a catastrophic setback for U.S. foreign policy interests that would, in my view, transcend even our defeat in Vietnam,” McNally told Fortune. “One would struggle to find a precedent or a parallel for what a defeat that would be.”
Where we are
More than a month into the slog of war, the average U.S. price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose above $4 on March 31 for the first time since 2022. California, Oregon, and Hawaii all exceeded $5.
And the impacts remain much worse in the rest of the world where supply shortages are mounting in Asia, and where Europe is now beginning to see scattered fuel shortfalls. This is where demand destruction escalates in April.
On March 30, Trump threatened “completely obliterating” Iranian power and water infrastructure if the strait is not opened—potentially a war crime. One day later, he lashed out at U.S. allies for not helping enough. “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” he posted on social media.
“We leave because there’s no reason for us to do this,” Trump later told reporters at the White House. “We’ll be leaving very soon.”
With Pakistan and now China increasingly serving as negotiation mediators, they offered a five-point peace initiative March 31 that included a call to “restore normal passage through the strait as soon as possible.”
Rystad Energy chief economist Claudio Galimberti sees a tenuous peace as the most likely outcome in the coming weeks. After all, only about 5% of the typical traffic is passing through the strait, which is not sustainable.
“It would be a very fragile ceasefire. It’s very unstable,” Galimberti said.
If a ceasefire only allows 50% or less of traffic to resume, then “this would be a very high inflationary scenario” for the world with oil prices likely remaining above $100 per barrel, he said. If it’s almost fully opened under a tolling scenario, then prices would fall further, but still remain well elevated above February levels before the war.
That is why McNally and Wicklund see U.S. boots on the ground as more likely to see the military campaign through. They think Trump is frustrated, but mostly posturing for now.
“What I think is likely is we’re going to see an intensification of combined operations—air, sea, and land—to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten Hormuz traffic,” McNally said.
The doctrine effect
The alternatives are much worse, McNally argued.
“The Arab Gulf countries and Israel would not accept Iran’s long-term domination of Hormuz. I think it would make another conflict just a matter of time. And it’s a conflict the United States would likely get dragged [back] into,” McNally said. “I don’t think it’s a durable scenario where we just sort of leave and say, ‘Hey, cut your deals with Iran. They’re the toll keeper now. Good luck.’”
The geopolitical precedent also would prove awful, McNally said, effectively canceling the Reagan Corollary to the Carter Doctrine. The 1980 Carter Doctrine said the U.S. would intervene militarily to protect its interests in the Middle East against external powers, which was in response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The 1981 Reagan Corollary, which came during the Iran-Iraq War, extended the doctrine but also pledged to secure internal stability in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia.
“We would be canceling the Reagan Corollary to the Carter Doctrine, and eventually, perhaps the doctrine itself,” he said. “I think eventually a China or Russia would want to step in there.”
It’s simple, you first need to educate yourself, and there’s no better way of doing so than by reading tons of great personal finance books.
The Best Financial Books for Beginners To Read
Naturally, you’ll also need to surround yourself with people in the know, who have your best interest at heart, but let’s not jump too far ahead of the story.
The problem with this tactic is that there are now thousands of financial literacy books out there, and it’s hard to choose the best ones.
Luckily for you, I already got through hundreds of them, and thus, I believe I can give out some honest recommendations from the heart.
Here are some of my personal favorites, in no particular order.
1. Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
Would you be willing to accept financial advice from a 28-year-old?
If you’re anything like me, that idea seemed preposterous at first. However, I still decided to give it a go.
The young author of this book is a lady named Kelly Williams Brown, and she decided to put her own personal twist on this topic.
Every great journey starts with a single step, and Kelly wasn’t afraid to take as many steps as she needed on her way to complete financial independence.
At the very end, she stopped at 468, a point where she was happy to declare herself as an “adult.”
I’ll be honest with you, some of these steps seemed quite trivial, but at the end of the day, some people can really appreciate the exact blueprint to follow. One thing’s for sure, you will laugh and enjoy this easy read. If you dare yourself to approach this book with an open mind, you might walk out with a completely different mindset.
And no, in case you were wondering, you don’t have to be in your teenage years to fully appreciate it.
Regardless of your age, chances are, you’ll always be coming back to this awesome read.
The best way to describe it, in my mind, is to consider it as a friend who seemingly always has all the answers.
Get it here.
2. The Wealthy Barber
Wow, what an interesting name, right?
Still, if you’ve done your research on great financial self-help reads, I’m sure this one caught your attention early on.
One thing I can appreciate about the author David Chilton is the fact that he keeps trying to improve the formula, and thus, we came to the third edition of this bestseller, which is currently available.
Unlike most of the other publications within the financial niche, Chilton didn’t focus on how to make the most money possible.
In fact, his goal was to showcase that even people with average salaries can make a fine living for themselves, just by making sound decisions ahead of time.
One other thing worth mentioning is that Chilton focused on the big picture, and also included a section on how to create your retirement plans.
If you are searching for an easy-to-comprehend read to get you into the game, this is a great place to start.
Buy it here.
3. I Will Teach You To Be Rich
A six-week training program to become financially independent?
To me, that sounded more like a fitness than a finance book, but excellent reviews practically forced me to see what the author Ramit Sethi had to say on the topic.
Luckily, I also belonged to the target audience, as this read is primarily intended for individuals between the ages of 20 to 35.
Sethi claims that the key to a stable financial plan is to approach things without guilt, allowing yourself to enjoy the journey.
At a certain point, if you start to follow his path, you will become automatic at making sound financial decisions, and the whole process will come completely naturally.
Judging from my experiences, this is a vital component, as the most complicated plans start wearing down on you after a while. You wouldn’t want to make it feel like work.
By taking a steady approach, Sethi is teaching us how to become more financially savvy one week after another.
After you complete the six-week course, you are guaranteed to walk out with a much better understanding of credit cards, how to manage your bank account, why it’s important to splurge on the stuff you have a passion for, and how to invest smartly in the process.
You can get it here.
4. If You Can: How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly
Looking for something short and sweet? Then this read is a must!
There are no excuses this time, no matter how busy you are or how short your attention span might be, you should be able to go through this 50-page masterpiece with ease.
William J Bernstein did a great job detailing the hurdles one has to jump over in order to get into the world of investments.
Truth be told, this is not a read I would recommend to absolute beginners, but if you have at least some knowledge on this topic, you will be blown away by the quality of content found in this condensed publication.
People around the globe cannot stop raving about how terrific it is, and I would gladly support those claims.
What’s more, when it comes to financial books, this booklet is dirt cheap, and if you are being serious about your investments, you absolutely cannot miss it!
You can buy it here.
5. Personal Finance For Dummies
You’d think that being called a dummy would insult a whole lot of people, but as it turns out, these self-help books were constant bestsellers, so there must be something to it.
All jokes aside, but I don’t mind being called a dummy in order to get the best advice from a financial counselor guru such as Eric Tyson.
Are you feeling under pressure due to that impending doom is known as the high-interest debt?
Well, this book offers some techniques to help you get on top of it.
Not only that, but Personal Finance For Dummies will also teach you how to track your spending, and develop a strategy for the future.
What I like best about this publication is the simple English that the author used, without any fancy terminology that’s hardly comprehensible to the general public.
Well, it should come as no surprise, as Tyson already wrote several books for dummies. You can say that he really cracked the code.
Get it here.
6. The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life
It’s always better to be uninformed than misinformed.
I believe it’s this exact sentence that was constantly popping up inside the head of the author JL Collins while writing this book.
It’s hard to put your trust behind a book, when you don’t even personally know the author behind it, but this publication has quite an interesting backstory.
It was constructed based on letters Collins used to send to his daughter.
Naturally, most of those letters contained financial advice, but Collins also had to wrap it all up in a neat package, as all the finances were pretty dry and boring to his, then teenage, daughter.
Besides the obvious things, such as strategies on how to amount the wealth in the first place, the author takes a deeper look behind the scenes, trying to explain why having “F-you money” is the thing we should all strive toward.
If you’re tired of all the fluff content that everyone keeps pushing upon us these days, and you’re looking for data-driven facts, definitely check out this gem.
Get it on Amazon.
7. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing
In case you have decided to search for this publication now, you’ve probably seen that it currently sells its ninth edition!
That’s right, it would appear that the author Burton G. Malkiel is a very detail-orientated man. Well, I guess any decent financial advisor should be.
However, being very detail-orientated can sometimes bring you the title of being very boring as well.
I won’t lie to you, this book sure has its dry bits, there’s no going around it.
Despite those sections, if you look at the whole publication, I would gladly claim that some of the information you can find here, cannot be found anywhere else.
In the world of finances, that is a rare gift that should be celebrated.
If you think that you already know everything about the stock market, prepare to have your mind blown to pieces!
After reading these battle-tested examples, nothing will ever be the same. And that’s a good thing!
Buy it on Amazon.
8. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Ah, finally, here’s a man who’s not afraid to talk about assets.
In a way, that message resonates through the entirety of this bestseller, written by Robert T. Kiyosaki.
Now, try to understand just how difficult of a job Mr. Kiyosaki faced, trying to tell people that they’ve been living their lives entirely wrong.
You see, most people consider their home as their most prized possession, but Kiyosaki considers it more of a wasted opportunity.
Instead, he advises his audience to invest in things such as Businesses, Real Estate, and Paper assets.
Additionally, he insists that cash flow is the king, and that net worth is a figure which has no real value anyway.
With that in mind, why would I recommend this book?
At the very least, it will give you an entirely different perspective on life, as it might lead you to alter your long-term goals and motivate you to challenge the existing order.
It’s never a bad thing to think outside the box every once in a while.
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, and you know a thing or two about my life, you probably already noticed that I didn’t exactly follow the rules provided by this book.
Still, don’t think that just because you don’t agree with the basic principle there are no valuable lessons to learn from the whole thing. Quite the contrary, in fact.
Buy it here.
9. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy
The road to getting wealthy requires tons of effort, and it’s not easy to get there.
Heck, if it was, wouldn’t everybody already be there?
When you put it this way, it almost seems like a mission impossible, as if it was only meant for a specific number of people.
If you’re in this club congratulations, but if not, guess what, you ain’t never getting in there.
No, that couldn’t be the case, right?
If we were just able to draw some parallels between wealthy people, perhaps we would be able to find the pattern?
With that achieved, would it be possible to work on those things and reap massive success afterward?
All of these complicated questions can be answered if you just read this tremendous publication.
It points to seven common traits found in the wealthiest people in the world, and explains how you can get there eventually, if you start working on it today.
Are you willing to put in the work?
Get it here.
10. The Richest Man in Babylon: (The Success Secrets of the Ancients – the Most Inspiring Book on Wealth Ever Written)
A self-proclaimed most inspiring book regarding financial well-being ever?
Talk about high expectations. Luckily for the author, George S Clason, the audience worldwide tends to agree with that statement.
What most of these finance books struggle with is the problem of becoming eventually outdated.
However, chances are that the problem of procrastination will be around for as long as the human race roams the earth, so there are no worries regarding this publication.
Even though it’s published quite some time ago, this marvel still contains a bunch of useful information that can get your life back on track in an instant.
When it comes to managing personal finances, it’s generally regarded as a classic you shouldn’t miss.
Before I eventually got around to reading it, I had some prejudice, as I thought it would be just another one of those self-help motivating pieces that offered no real-world substance.
Boy, was I wrong! Even nowadays, when I’m a grown man, with many business ventures behind me, I still come back to this masterpiece from time to time, in seek of that eternal motivation. It never failed me thus far.
You can buy it here.
11. The Feminist Financial Handbook: A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Wealthy Life
A colleague of mine, Brynne Conroy, in 2018 wrote the #1 Amazon New Release The Feminist Financial Handbook.
If you’ve ever felt like all the money advice you read is for those who have already “made it,” this book is for you.
It looks at the effects intersectional oppression–whether that be classism, racism, homophobia or sexism–have on our personal economies.
But rather than having a “woe is me” attitude, the pages in this book include ways to work around the many financial obstacles you may face.
As you read, you’ll be both inspired to change the system as a whole, and inspired to take control of your personal finances as you work within that system.
It’s a source of empowerment that doesn’t diminish the real fiscal struggles everyday Americans live through.
Grab your copy here.
12. Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances
All of the books I have recommended focus on improving your own finances and growing your wealth.
But as every adult will discover, they’ll have to get involved in one way or another with their parents’ finances.
As parents age, adult children often have to step in and help them with money matters. And when parents die, the children have to deal with what’s left behind.
This book by award-winning financial journalist Cameron Huddleston helps you get over your fears of having money conversations with your parents and walks you through the process step-by-step.
There’s no other book out there like it, and it should be required reading for anyone who will have to get involved with their parents’ financial lives – which is pretty much all of us.
Get a copy here.
13. Napkin Finance: Build Your Wealth in 30 Seconds or Less
If you’re new to personal finance and the thought of diving into a long, word-heavy book is intimidating, Napkin Finance might be the best personal finance book for you to start with!
It covers basic financial concepts in bite-sized (well, napkin-sized) lessons, with simplicity and humor. Visual learners will appreciate the infographics and illustrations.
However, it’s worth repeating that this is definitely a basic book. It may be one of the best financial books for beginners, kids, and teens, or anyone who wants a simple crash course to get their financial knowledge started.
If you’re more advanced, you’ll likely find most of the information repetitive. Napkin Finance does make a perfect gift for a high schooler who’s getting interested in money.
Grab a copy here!
14. Quit Like a Millionaire: No Gimmicks, Luck, or Trust Fund Required
If JL Collins is too conservative for you then this is a must-read. This is one of those “from zero to hero” books. It is a story of how Kristy Shen achieved financial independence starting from zero with no business to support her on her way.
It is a good motivational book with a story that seems easy for anyone to replicate but some claims are questionable. Ie. she said that dividends can shield you from market volatility.
The book offers practical advice and strategies for achieving financial independence, with an emphasis on frugality, smart investing, and prioritizing experiences over material possessions.
Key principles discussed in the book include understanding the concept of ‘enough,’ which involves determining what you truly need to live a fulfilling life and learning to differentiate between wants and needs. The book also encourages saving aggressively by cutting expenses, increasing income, and investing wisely.
Investing in low-cost index funds is recommended as a passive investment strategy, which provides diversification and minimizes risk. The authors advise minimizing taxes by utilizing tax-advantaged accounts and strategies to optimize investments.
Embracing geo-arbitrage is another strategy presented in the book, which involves considering relocation to lower-cost areas, both domestically and internationally, to stretch your money further and reach financial independence faster.
Former TikTok chief and ex-Disney veteran Kevin Mayer has joined the Board of Directors at South Korea-born entertainment giant HYBE.
Los Angeles-based Mayer was installed as a non-executive director of HYBE at a shareholders’ meeting on March 31, according to Korean news outlet, Money Today Broadcasting (MTN).
He is currently Co-CEO/Founder of Blackstone-backed American “next generation” media company Candle Media, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner of VC firm Smash Capital.
In 2022, Candle Media acquired Spanish-language content firm Exile Content Studio, co-founded by current HYBE America Chairman/CEO, Isaac Lee. MTN reports that the acquisition “established a connection” between HYBE and Mayer.
Mayer’s appointment comes amid a period of significant change at HYBE America, which recently rebranded its Nashville division as Blue Highway Records following the departure of Big Machine Label Group founder Scott Borchetta.
It also arrives at a pivotal moment for HYBE’s parent company, which posted record annual revenues of $1.86 billion for 2025 and is gearing up for the BTS World Tour ARIRANG — an 82-show stadium tour across 23 countries. BTS’s comeback album, also titled Arirang, broke K-Pop streaming records on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music upon its release on March 20.
Mayer, who was also the COO of parent company ByteDance, joined TikTok in May 2020, becoming the platform’s first-ever US-based CEO. But he resigned less than four months into the role amid turmoil caused by the Donald Trump administration’s demands that TikTok sell off a chunk of its US business.
Access Industries, the majority owner of Warner Music Group, subsequently announced in November 2020 that Mayer had joined its ranks as a “senior media adviser”, a role in which he served until 2023. He also had a two-year fixed term as Chairman of the board at sports platform DAZN from 2021 to 2023.
Prior to TikTok, Mayer was Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer & International at Disney – a position in which he led the rollout of video streaming service Disney+, which surpassed 50m paying subscribers in April, five months after launch.
Additionally, he led Disney’s other direct-to-consumer businesses, including Hulu, ESPN+, and Hotstar, and oversaw Disney’s international operations, global ad sales, and global content sales.
Previously, as Disney’s Chief Strategy Officer, Mayer helped orchestrate the company’s acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and most of 21st Century Fox.
Mayer spent 22 years working at Disney in total, across two stints (1993-2000, and then 2005-2020).
In the interim, he served in roles including the CEO of Playboy.com, and Chairman/CEO of Clear Channel Interactive.
He currently serves on the board of Harvard Business School, as well as on the boards of Tinuiti and The Forest Road Company. He is also an advisory board member at Salesforce and a member of the board of trustees at The Paley Center for Media.Music Business Worldwide
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