Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Shilendra Zalke, Financial Freedom Coach and Founder of Financial Freedom GPS, opened enrollment in July 2026 for a structured coaching program that guides working professionals through stock market investing, wealth strategy and passive income planning.MELBOURNE, Australia, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Financial Freedom GPS, a wealth-building coaching program based in Melbourne, Australia, opens enrollment in July 2026, with the next cohort starting soon after. The program is led by Shailendra Zalke, a financial freedom coach, member of CPA Australia and a chartered accountant with almost 20 years of corporate finance experience.Many working professionals in their 30s, 40s and 50s have…

Costco is often considered unmatched when it comes to value and customer loyalty, but that seems to be changing. The warehouse giant has been knocked out of the top three spots, according to the latest data from Dunnhumby’s latest annual Retailer Preference Index. They are now occupied exclusively by regional chains: HEB, Market Basket and Woodman. It is the first time in the report’s nine-year history that regional grocers have taken the top three spots. These types of stores have mastered the ability to offer best-in-class savings while maintaining high perceived quality, which has led analysts to classify them as…

Have you ever wished you had a clearer picture of your audience on social media so you can create better content for them? Or even better, ask them directly what they want to see? Most people consider social media polls as a way to increase engagement. and they are. But this is only part of the story. When used correctly, surveys and polls provide you with something far more valuable. Real insight into what your audience really cares about. In this post, you’ll learn how to use social media polls and surveys to understand your audience and create the content…

In Malaysia’s wealth structuring landscape, the difference between having a structure in place and having a structure that actually works is greater than many families realize. Trusts, foundations and holding companies are readily available, but without real governance, clear purposes and mechanisms that track how families relate to each other, these arrangements risk becoming hollow tools that fail precisely when they are needed most. At the recent Malaysia Wealth Management Forum 2026 organized by Hubbis in Kuala Lumpur, a panel chaired by Ruben van Dijk, Director of Melbourne Capital Group, examined how wealth structures should evolve for Malaysian households meeting…

Detroit, Michigan, US Senate candidate Dr. Abdul Al-Sayed speaks at Senator Bernie Sanders’ ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ rally. Jim West UCG | Universal Images Group | getty imagesAbdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate running for the Democratic nomination in the Michigan Senate primary on August 4, sees a fundamental risk in the rise of artificial intelligence. And he’s betting that fears over emerging technology and the data centers that power it could play a key role in the race. “I haven’t really had any conversations, nor have I put any stops where data centers don’t come where AI is,” El-Sayed told CNBC. “This…

US President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office of the White House on June 26, 2026 in Washington, DC, US. Ken Cedeno | reutersPresident Donald Trump said Friday he will not sign the bipartisan housing bill passed by Congress last month in protest of Republicans’ failure to pass the controversial election measure.But the housing affordability bill was termed 21st Century Roads to Housing ActYet it is set to automatically become law on Saturday — unless Trump vetoes it.This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.Choose CNBC as your favorite source on Google and never miss a moment of the…

© Ilyas Nasrullah / Shutterstock.com The 10-year Treasury yield sits at 4.49%, which is in the 93rd percentile of its 12-month range. This is the number every dividend investor should have taped to their monitors this July, as this is the hurdle any equity income name will have to clear before earning a spot in the portfolio. Three large-cap payers are doing exactly that right now, each offering yields well above the risk-free rate and multi-decade growth streaks behind them. That’s why I’m looking forward to adding all three this month. Altria (MO) Altria (NYSE:MO | MO price prediction) This…

According to Yelp’s recent rankings, Americans are in line for certain food and beverage trends this year. The mix of newcomers and familiar names is drawing crowds, and what connects them says a lot about how people want to spend their time and money. In its third annual Fastest Growing Brands report, Yelp ranked 50 brands using a weighted metric of net new business openings, consumer interest and searches on Yelp in 2025 compared to 2024. Three food trends run down the list, and each gives customers their own take on what they order. 1. Drive-Thru Beverages The fastest growing…

© George Rudy / Shutterstock.com an investor who bought Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT | msft price prediction) paid closer to $50 per share compared to $45 ten years ago. Based on Microsoft’s current $0.91 quarterly payout, those shares now pay a dividend of $3.64 per year. This is a yield of about 7% on cost, even though the stock’s current yield is about 1%. The early yield helped, but the dividend growth did most of the work. This is a benefit available to investors who do not yet need a portfolio paycheck. The job is not to maximize today’s yield. It…

By your late 50s, the American dream says you should own a home, you should have years of equity and you may be thinking about paying off the mortgage. A lot of houses are following a different script. US Census Bureau third quarter 2025 housing vacancy survey The home ownership rate for households headed by someone aged 55 to 64 remains at exactly 76%. This leaves 24%, who are probably living on rent. For many people approaching retirement, renting can solve the money challenges that arise with home ownership, even with a home paid off. owning a home is expensive…