On April 8th, 2025, the S&P 500 was down over 15% on the year, its 4th-worst start to a year ever. But after a 38% rally, it was up 17% on the year, hitting 38 all-time highs along the way. This has been one of the greatest market comebacks in history. – Creative Planning, December 24, 2025

"What is obvious is rarely true… and what is true is rarely obvious." ~ H.L. Mencken

George Washington never knew dinosaurs existed. He died in 1799, but the first dinosaur fossil wasn’t discovered until 1824. – Snopes, January 3, 2024

Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin are not only famous figures in American history, but they also earned themselves spots in the sports hall of fame. Honest Abe has been honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, while Franklin earned a spot in the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In fact, while Franklin was also a swimming coach in both Europe and America, Lincoln was often in gang fights and used to defend his step-brother’s river barge, throwing potential hijackers overboard. – History Facts, February 23, 2025

China’s collapsing birthrate is now impossible to ignore. Kindergarten enrollment has dropped 25% in four years, forcing tens of thousands of preschools to close nationwide. – The Financial Times, July 24, 2025

There are roughly 5,426 data centers in the U.S. today. Compare that number to Germany, which only houses 529.
 – The Apollo Academy, October 26, 2025

Across the 70+ schools in Power Five conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, ACC, SEC), just 22 basketball players on scholarships have played for the same school all 4 (or 5) years, including just 1 player across all 16 SEC schools. There are 19 players that have played for 4 schools in 4 years, says Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports. – Brobible, March 4, 2026

Twelfth-grade girls are now less likely than boys to say they want to get married someday, which hints at changing expectations around independence, relationships, and long-term commitment, especially for young women watching older generations delay, redefine, or opt out entirely. Whether that’s progress, caution, or something else depends on who you ask. – Pew Research, November 14, 2025

1-in-5 American adults is illiterate, and more than half read below a sixth-grade level. In a country built on contracts, disclosures, and fine print, that gap doesn’t just affect education; it shapes earnings, health outcomes, and how easily people can be misled. – The Boston Globe, September 11, 2025

U.S. pedestrian deaths have risen 80% since 2009, a staggering jump in a relatively short time. Bigger vehicles, faster speeds, distracted driving, and distracted walking are all part of the mix… and modern streets are more dangerous, even as we assume everything around us is getting safer. – Construction Physics, October 9, 2025

The bull market we’re currently living in is in year four, which, historically speaking, is typically quite strong. Assuming the bull market doesn’t end (by definition, a -20% decline), the average return of the 4th year in a bull market is +14.6% with a 85.7% win rate since 1950. – Ryan Detrick, March 24, 2026

Whenever gold has fallen by more than -10% in one week, it has never been higher 12 months later… and observing the performance of the S&P500 12 months later, after each of these instances, the stock market has been higher 100% of the time. – FundStrat, March 23, 2026

In a graceful nod to succession, legacy, and the humility of when to pass the pen, at 95 years of age, Warren Buffett announced that he’s retiring his famous annual shareholder letter and will communicate going forward through his now-annual Thanksgiving message… a quieter, more personal format he’s used for only the past few years. – Berkshire Hathaway, November 10, 2025

When the “First Thanksgiving” happened in 1621, only four adult women from the Mayflower voyage group were alive—and those same four helped prepare the entire feast. After a brutal winter that claimed 78% of the women onboard, the celebration took shape not just as a harvest festival but as a testament to survival, service, and stoic courage. – NRA Women, November 23, 2023

China now generates one terawatt of renewable energy capacity per year, equivalent to more than 300 large nuclear power plants, underscoring the AI-driven investment race with the U.S. – Economist Magazine, November 6, 2025

Turns out, those tiny grooves on a dime or quarter? They’re not a lost design whim… they’re the original anti-fraud feature. Centuries ago, folks literally clipped gold and silver off coin edges, chipping away real value, but minting reeded edges made that trick glaringly obvious. Today, it’s less about keeping metal honest and more about traditions, plus a handy tactile hint for people who identify coins by feel.
– Reader’s Digest, August 7, 2025

Cartographers (people whose job it is to write and update maps) have a trick up their sleeve when trying to ensure no one plagiarizes their work – they insert fake roads or features into their maps on purpose, called “trap streets” and “copyright traps,” which help them catch unauthorized map copycats. – Bloomberg, June 29, 2022

“Portable mortgages” are gaining attention as a way for homeowners to keep their current low interest rate, even if they move to a new house. The idea could finally unfreeze the market by giving millions of “rate-locked” owners a path to sell without taking on a pricier loan. Lenders warn it could add some complexity along the way… but if it catches on, it might reshape how people think about moving altogether. – Yahoo! Finance, November 13, 2025

In the 12 months ending June 2025, the share of first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21%, and their average age increased to an all-time high of 40. Delaying home ownership from age 30 to 40 can mean losing $150,000 in built-up equity on an average starter home. – National Association of Realtors, November 4, 2025 

The longest government shutdown in history could be over, but once again, stocks were higher (to the tune of +0.6%) from beginning to end, proving yet again that news is often just noise, and that politics has no place in your investment portfolio. – Benzinga, November 10, 2025

Over the last 30 years, the purchasing power of the US Consumer Dollar has been cut in half due to inflation. At the same time, the S&P 500 has gained 888% (8% per year) after adjusting for inflation. Is there another, better way to convince someone why they should invest their money? – Creative Planning, October 17, 2025

Without current subsidies, the 24 million Americans with health insurance through ACA marketplaces could see yearly premiums more than double to $1,900 from $900. For those Americans on employer-sponsored plans, 2026 premiums are forecasted to increase 6.5% next year — the biggest increase since 2010. – National Insurance Services, September 24, 2025

At today’s prices, the average U.S. home costs about 3.9 gold bars. In Hawaii, you’d have to haul nearly 8 bars to the closing table, while in West Virginia, it would take fewer than 2. The metaphor says it all — homes aren’t just pricier than a few years ago, they’re more ‘expensive’ no matter what currency you measure in… even when paying with solid gold. – Visual Capitalist, October 1, 2025

 On September 30th, the S&P500 did something that it’s done 21 times since 1950 – it printed a 5-month winning streak with a new all-time high monthly close. Observing all the times this has happened in the past, the index has never closed lower 8 months out. – Steve Deppe, October 1, 2025

The top 10% of wage-earners in the US now spend about the same as the bottom 90%. In Q2, the top 10% of wage-earners accounted for a record-high 49.2% of total consumer spending, up from 43.2% at the end of 2019 just before COVID and 37.3% in 1995 (30 years ago).
 – Bloomberg, September 16, 2025

A recent homeowner survey found that 61% of Baby Boomers plan to never sell their homes (up from 54% in 2024), and just 10% plan to sell within the next five years. More than 40% of boomers surveyed consider not owning a home a sign of failure, and 65% of boomers said younger generations could own a home if they were more responsible. – HousingWire, September 16, 2025

Investors are still sitting on a mountain of cash, with money market fund assets hitting a record $7.3 trillion, including more than $2 trillion held by everyday investors. Much of it is sidelined money, waiting for a pullback, even as markets push to new highs. It’s a reminder that a lot of gun powder remains for a potential next leg higher if/when that cash comes back into play. – Business Insider, August 16, 2025

While it took 967 trading days (not calendar days), small-cap stocks finally made a new all-time high. This was the second-longest wait ever, with the longest being 4.7 years after the tech bubble burst… and yet another hint that this bull market could have legs to the upside.
 – Inc., September 22, 2025

Not including this past week’s apocalypse du jour, there have been 22 federal government shutdowns since 1976. – History, May 27, 2025

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) no longer points toward recession, and in fact, recent improvements suggest momentum could be building for a recovery ahead. Just as it did back in early 2023 when many were calling for a downturn, the LEI is signaling resilience, reminding us that the economy often proves stronger than the financial media might let on. – The Conference Board, September 18, 2025

Life expectancy at birth was 18 years in the early Bronze Age, 22 in the Roman Empire, and 36 in Massachusetts in 1776. – The Atlantic, January 2025

In late 1917, during World War I, France initiated the construction of a replica of Paris on the city's outskirts. This decoy, featuring landmarks like the Gare de l'Est and simulated factory rooftops, aimed to mislead German bombers. The project, led by engineer Fernand Jacopozzi, was abandoned after the war ended in 1918. – Doughboy Foundation, Dec 14, 2023

Amazon AWS (Amazon Web Services) generated $108 billion in revenue in 2024, which was higher than the revenues of 468 companies in the S&P 500. – Creative Planning, February 19, 2025

YouTube is so big that its search engine is the second-largest in the world behind Google. More than 500 hours of video uploaded every minute and more than one billion hours watched every day. – CNBC, Jan 30, 2023

The Earth’s axis is tilted at about 23.44 , and that slant is the main reason we get seasons. Without it, our planet would have constant daylight and temperature all year long. That gentle wobble sets the drama of our solstices and equinoxes... and shapes everything from climate zones to when crops grow best. – United Nations, October 28, 2022 & National Weather Service

The total “all-in” cost of attending Wellesley College for one academic year exceeded $100,000, making it the first US college or university to cross this six-digit threshold. For the typical undergraduate family, however, average spending in the last academic year was $30,837, and 27% was covered by scholarships and grants. – Forbes, April 03, 2025 and Sallie Mae

The U.S. wasn’t the first to celebrate Labor Day. Canada beat us to it, holding its first “Labour” Day parade in Toronto in 1872 to support striking printers. Americans took notice and borrowed the idea a decade later, so what started as a Canadian protest march ended up becoming one of America’s biggest national holidays. – Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, August 27, 2025

Can you wear white after Labor Day? This old tradition goes back to the late Victorian era, where it was a fashion faux pas to wear any white clothing after the summer officially ended (plus, it should go without saying that it was a whole lot more practical in the days before air conditioning). The tradition isn’t really followed anymore, but wearing white was a sign that you were still in vacation mode at your summer cottage back in those days. – History, August 27, 2025

A UBS report found that the US gained 379,000 new millionaires last year, an increase of 1.5% from 2023. That gives the country 23.8 million total millionaires, the most in the world, dwarfing second-place China’s 6.3 million. – CNBC, June 19, 2025

Amazon is on track to reach 350 million global Prime memberships by year-end, up from 200 million in 2021, according to JPMorgan. This year’s July Prime Day has been extended to a four-day event, with projected sales expected to hit $23.8 billion. – Sherwood News, July 8, 2025

U.S. universities are seeing a roughly 10% decline in international graduate enrollment, including master’s and doctoral students, which could slash around $3 billion in tuition revenue this year. – Financial Times, July 8, 2025

Core CPI increased 0.2% compared to forecasts for an increase of 0.3%. June’s core reading was the fifth straight weaker than- expected report, which is tied for the second longest streak of weaker-than-expected readings since at least 1998. – J.P. Morgan & Bespoke

In 2024, health care was the largest employer of any economic sector in 38 out of 50 states, while manufacturing was the dominant sector in just six states. In 1990, the manufacturing sector was the dominant employer in 35 states and health care wasn’t the top employer in any state. – New York Times, July 3, 2025

In a recent Gallup survey, a majority of US adults said AI will have more of an impact on society than other major technologies when they were introduced like the telephone (52%), the internet (56%), the computer (57%), the smartphone (59%) and robotics (66%). – Gallup, July 10, 2025

The average annual cost for family health insurance coverage increased 297% from $6,438 in 2000 to $25,570 in 2024. At an annualized increase of 5.92%, health insurance costs have increased at 2.3 times the rate of inflation. – Kaiser Family Foundation, October 9 ,2024

The top 10 stocks now account for almost 40% of the S&P 500’s market capitalization; that figure was closer to 20% near the peak of the dot-com boom at the end of 1999. The market, however, isn’t as expensive as it might appear—the 10 most valuable stocks in the S&P 500 traded for about 27 times 12-month forward earnings, cheaper than 44 times at the start of 2000. – Barrons, July 16, 2025

About one in seven pending home sales fell through last month, as the power in the housing market shifts toward buyers. Just over 57,000 home-sale agreements nationwide were canceled in June, equal to 14.9% of homes that went under contract, according to Redfin. That's up from 13.9% a year earlier and is the highest June share in records dating back to 2017. There are hundreds of thousands more home sellers than buyers, giving buyers more options to choose from and more negotiating power. Buyers have room to be picky; they may back out during the inspection period if a better home comes up for sale or they discover an issue they don't want to fix.
 – Yahoo Finance, July 21, 2025

The US is the largest economy in the world by a sizeable margin, and growing. The US has the world’s largest bond market, largest stock market, and largest real estate market. – International Monetary Fund, April 2025

Never mind “Sell in May and Go Away.” If you’re a long-term investor, every month is a good month to start investing. As it turns out, the average annualized ROR for the S&P500 looking forward 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30 years in all months of the year ranges between 11.2% - 12.3%, and this data goes all the way back to 1923. – Creative Planning, June 5, 2025

“Spending money to show people how much money you have is the fastest way to have less money.” ~ Morgan Housel

China is home to about 17.5% of the global population today, but in 1800, 1 in 3 people on Earth lived there. Widespread smallpox inoculation, improved birthing techniques, and rapid population growth made China the most populous country on the planet at the time. 
 – History Facts, February 18, 2025

Volatility isn’t unusual – it’s the cost of admission.  On average, the S&P 500 sees seven -3% dips, three-and-a-half -5% pullbacks, and one -10% correction per year, plus a -15% drop about every 18 months.  Said another way, if you have a $1 million retirement portfolio, that’s the equivalent of losing (and recovering) -$30,000 multiple times a year, -$50,000 a few more, -$100,000 once annually, and -$150,000 every year-and-a-half.  In other words, this is what “normal” looks like, having nothing to do with bear markets. – Ryan Detrick, March 4, 2025

The US dollar represents 54% of global export invoicing, 57% of official foreign exchange reserves, and is used in 88% of foreign exchange transactions. 46% of global GDP is anchored to the US dollar by way of currency peg, more than double the next closest competitor (the euro).” – Ilzetzki, Reinhart, and Rogoff

Over the last decade, fueled by AI, US oil producers have pumped 60% more oil daily with 40% fewer workers. By extracting more oil while reducing expenses, they’re lowering the costs to drill profitably. In the Permian Basin, the break-even price for oil producers has fallen to $40 a barrel from over $90 in 2012. – The Barron’s Daily, November 26, 2024

In April, the U.S. economy added 177,000 jobs, surpassing expectations of 130,000.  This marks the 52nd consecutive month of jobs growth, the second-longest streak in U.S. history! – Bureau of Labor and Statistics, May 2, 2025

The U.S. bond market has now been in a drawdown for 57 months – by far, the longest in history. – Creative Planning, May 5, 2025

Google currently commands approximately 89.66% of the global search engine market share, solidifying its position as the most-visited website worldwide. The platform processes more than 8.5 billion searches daily, amounting to more than 3 trillion searches annually. 
 – GlobalStats, April 2025

This year’s NBA Finals will end a decades long title drought, no matter who wins. The Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves have never won a championship, while the New York Knicks haven’t won since 1973 and the Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t won since 1979 when they were still in Seattle. – NPR, May 20, 2025

62% of all outstanding mortgages have yields of less than 4%. California, Utah and North Dakota have the highest share of sub-4% mortgages (71%), but in all 50 states, at least half of outstanding mortgages have rates of less than 4%. – Axios, May 19, 2025

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 prototype – considered to be “America’s response to the Concorde” – successfully broke the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.1 during a test flight over California's Mojave Desert.  This milestone brings the company closer to introducing its Overture airliner, designed to carry 64 to 80 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.7, which could potentially reduce flight times between New York and London to just over 3.5 hours. – CNN Travel, January 28, 2025

Nonresidential fixed investment in IT equipment (driven mostly by data-center spending) accounted for nearly one full percentage point of US GDP growth in Q1, eclipsing the prior record high seen in Q1 2000 at the height of the dot-com boom. – Apollo Academy, May 28, 2025

Of 910 Generation Alpha Americans ages 12 to 15, the top two career aspirations were YouTuber (32%) and TikTok creator (21%). Along with 15% of those surveyed who aspire to be professional online streamers, over two-thirds of Gen Alpha Americans aspire to be some form of online influencer for their career. – Fortune, April 26, 2025

Home prices have doubled in the U.S. between 2010 and 2021, the median square footage of the average single-family home has doubled in size (from 1048 SF in 1920 to 2,491 SF in 2020), but the median household income required ($124,000) to purchase a median sized home for sale is 57% higher than the current median household income ($79,000). – This Week in Charts, March 25, 2025

Confirmed through pedigree research reported by the Louisville Courier Journal, every horse that competed in the 2025 Kentucky Derby is a descendant of the legendary racehorse Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown in 1973, more than five decades ago. – CBS Sports, May 3, 2025

U.S. Core CPI (inflation) is back below 3% for the first time in 4 years (falling to 2.8% this past month), primarily resulting from lower gasoline prices and airfare, which increases the odds for a potential Fed rate cut in the not-too-distant future. – Reuters, April 10, 2025

In 1973, Secretariat set a Kentucky Derby record of 1:59.40 – a time that remains unbeaten over 50 years later.  His exceptionally large heart, estimated at 22-pounds, was credited to this remarkable feat, and was said to be the reason for his impressive stamina and acceleration. 
 – Derby Museum, May 2018

Volatility isn’t unusual – it’s the cost of admission.  On average, the S&P 500 sees seven -3% dips, three-and-a-half -5% pullbacks, and one -10% correction per year, plus a -15% drop about every 18 months.  Said another way, if you have a $1 million retirement portfolio, that’s the equivalent of losing (and recovering) -$30,000 multiple times a year, -$50,000 a few more, -$100,000 once annually, and -$150,000 every year-and-a-half.  In other words, this is what “normal” looks like, having nothing to do with bear markets. – Ryan Detrick, March 4,2025

The S&P500 just experienced its own “Death Cross” after its 50-day moving average crossed below its 200-day moving average.  While this indicator has triggered some well-timed market signals (such as in March ’22, December ’18, December ’07, and October ’00), there have been no shortage of “late” signals (such as late-March of 2020).  In fact, the data shows that the stock market has averaged a 6.3% gain in the 12-months following a death cross, with 72% of these instances resulting in positive returns. – Adam Turnquist, April 14, 2025

College tuition has increased 899% since 1983. The overall inflation rate during this period was 225%, but annual tuition and fees to attend a four-year private school, since peaking at $44,120 in 2020, have fallen 5.8% to $41,540 in 2024. College costs are down even more at four-year public schools: from $12,490 in 2020 to $11,260 in 2024 (-9.8%). – CNBC, April 16, 2025

The US is the largest economy in the world by a sizeable margin, and growing. The US has the world’s largest bond market, largest stock market, and largest real estate market. – International Monetary Fund, April 2025

“When things go badly, people become cautious.  Then, their caution causes things to go well, and when things go well, they become incautious.  I think that’s a forever cycle.” ~ Howard Marks