🇺🇸 Americans got richer

US household wealth hit a record high last year | The US jobs market data was a reassuring read | [Finimize](   TOGETHER WITH     Hi {NAME}, here's what you need to know for March 9th in 3:13 minutes.   🪙 Bitcoin's recent wobble made it clear that the crypto's potential doesn't come easy. So brush up on your basics with [our free guide on investing in bitcoin](, and find out how to create a digital portfolio with real stability. [Check out the guide]( Today's big stories - US household wealth reached unprecedented levels last year - These five telltale signs could help you brace for the next crypto plunge – [Read Now]( - The latest jobs report came in not too hot and not too cold, suggesting that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate regime may be playing out just right New Money [New Money] What’s going on here? The wealth owned by US households hit an all-time high last year, potentially signaling the start of an AI-fueled financial utopia. What does this mean? US households racked up 8% more wealth last year to reach a total of $156 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve. That doesn’t mean there’s more cash in everyone’s pockets, though. Most of that increase came from stocks, which ended up being worth $7.8 trillion more than the year before. Plus, with high interest rates turning affordable mortgages into a pipe dream, more Americans stuck to their homes instead of upgrading. That’s capped the number of homes on the market, forcing buyers to bid more and keep house prices high. In fact, the real estate market was worth some $2 trillion more by the end of the year – a win for homeowners. Why should I care? Zooming out: What goes up can come down. The opposite of accumulating wealth is losing a job, and that’s a real risk for an increasing number of Americans. There were 9% more [layoffs]( this February than at the same time last year, making it the worst month for new redundancies since the global financial crisis. Although, with the count of monthly jobless claims staying fairly steady, it seems that freshly unemployed Americans are finding new jobs lickety-split. The bigger picture: Everything is AI’s fault. AI’s effect on the US stock market is far from tailing off: the S&P 500 index is already up another 9% this year. There are worries, though, that automatic processes could start replacing human work, exacerbating the rate of layoffs over time. Dystopia isn’t the only option, of course, and AI tools could be used to enhance human productivity and company profits across the board, shining up stock prices and making most Americans richer in the long run. You might also like: [How to tell a blockbuster from a flop when private companies turn into stocks.]( Copy to share story: [( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=New Money&utm_campaign=daily-global-09-03-2024&utm_source=email) Analyst Take How To Spot The Next Crypto Crash Before It Happens [How To Spot The Next Crypto Crash Before It Happens]( By Jonathan Hobbs, CFA, Analyst The crypto market had a [bit of a tumble]( this week, just after bitcoin reached its highest-ever price of around $69,200. Over about five hours, [bitcoin and ether]( dipped roughly 15%, and riskier altcoins shed 20% to 40% of their value. The market did recover pretty swiftly, however. And that’s good because – believe me when I say this – it could have been [a lot worse](. So let's check out the [five warning shots]( that were firing just before the drop, and see how they could help you prepare for the next one. That’s today’s Insight: [how to spot the next crypto plunge before it happens](. [Read or listen to the Insight here]( SPONSORED BY GRAYSCALE Size might matter, at least when it comes to bitcoin ETFs Experience matters when you’re choosing an investment – not least when it comes to crypto. And get this: Grayscale’s flagship product, GBTC, is the [world’s biggest* Bitcoin ETF](. That’s a triple threat: [size, experience, and track record](. So if you’re curious about crypto, you’ll want to [check out the Bitcoin ETF that’s sponsored by the world’s biggest* crypto asset manager](. [Find Out More]( Important Disclosures*Based on AUM as of 1.31.24. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC) (the “Trust”) has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Trust has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Trust and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at [www.sec.gov.]( Alternatively, the Trust or any authorized participant will arrange to send you the prospectus (when available) if you request it by calling (833) 903 - 2211 or by contacting Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. Foreside Fund Services, LLC is the Marketing Agent for the Trust.An investment in the Trust involves a high degree of risk, including partial or total loss of invested funds. The Trust holds Bitcoins; however, an investment in the Trust is not a direct investment in Bitcoin. As a non-diversified and single industry fund, the value of the shares may fluctuate more than shares invested in a broader range of industries. Extreme volatility, regulatory changes, and exposure to digital asset exchanges may impact the value of Bitcoin, and consequently the value of the Trust. Digital assets are not suitable for an investor that cannot afford loss of the entire investment. There is no guarantee that a market for the shares will be available which will adversely impact the liquidity of the Trust. The value of the Trust relates directly to the value of the underlying digital asset, the value of which may be highly volatile and subject to fluctuations due to a number of factors. We use the generic term “ETF” to refer to exchange-traded investment vehicles, including those that are required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “40 Act”), as well as other exchange-traded products which are not subject to the registration of the ‘40 Act. The Fund is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, unlike most exchange traded products or ETFs. When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. If you want your brand featured here, [get in touch.]( The Office [The Office] What’s going on here? The US economy [added]( more jobs than expected in February, proving that keeping business on track – even while interest rates are going for the jugular – is all in a day’s work for the country. What does this mean? The US filled 275,000 jobs in February, 75,000 more than economists expected, which is a sign that the economy is still holding firm. At the same time, wages didn’t increase as much as expected. And because rising paychecks are a key driver of inflation, that combination points toward a healthy balance of economic growth and softening price rises. The only snag was that December and January’s job numbers were revised downward by 167,000, along with an unexpected pop in the unemployment rate. Still, the big-picture data suggests that the Federal Reserve (the Fed) may have struck the delicate balance between taming inflation through interest rate hikes without sacrificing the economy in the process – for now, anyway. Why should I care? For markets: Bring out the countdown clock. One of the Fed’s favorite inflation gauges is sitting at 2.4%, only slightly above the 2% target. That’s a sign that inflation is headed in the right direction, which could explain why the Fed’s chairman said the central bank’s “not far” away from cutting interest rates. Not only would that make it cheaper to borrow money, stimulating the economy, but it would lift up stock valuations too – likely the reason why forward-thinking investors sparked a rally in the market recently. The bigger picture: Beware the lure of the market. The world’s most impressive investors have been tried and tested by the markets many times before. Ray Dalio has warned that the biggest mistake investors make is to believe what happened in the recent past is likely to persist. In other words, the market can switch up when you least expect it – so if you want to stay invested in case the rally keeps up, make sure you have a backup plan in place. You might also like: [How interest rates influence every investment you make](. Copy to share story: [( 🙋 [Ask a question](mailto:questions@finimize.com?body=Ask us a question: Where are you writing from? Let us know and we'll mention it when we reply.&noapp=true&subject=The Office&utm_campaign=daily-global-09-03-2024&utm_source=email) 💬 Quote of the day "Tomorrow is only found in the calendar of fools." – Og Mandino (an American author and salesman) [Tweet this]( "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" You're a brilliant business with great products. (We've taken the liberty of making an assumption.) Now you need to [find the right audience](, so you can really make a sound. Our one-million-strong international [financial community]( is on the lookout for any products and services that can help them make smarter decisions with confidence. That sounds like a perfect pairing to us. [Get in touch today](. [Get Your Name Out There]( 🎯 On Our Radar 1. Work isn’t worth a daily breakdown. One girl’s TikTok has sparked [a new conversation about boundaries](. 2. Sleep sprays are old news. Sleepyheads are [channeling their inner Marilyn Monroes]( at bedtime now. 3. Life would be better without problems. At least you can [learn to enjoy your hardships](. SPONSORED BY HEALTHWORDS.AI [HEALTHWORDS.AI]( When you support our sponsors, you support us. Thanks for that. 🌍 Finimize Live 🤩 Coming Up Soon... 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