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January 10, 2026

Welcome Back,

Happy Saturday, everyone ☀️
Good morning — I hope your day is starting slow, calm, and exactly how you want it to.

Here’s a thought to ease into the weekend: what if doing nothing with your money was actually costing you money?
Not risky decisions. Not bad investments. Just cash quietly sitting where it shouldn’t.

Today’s post looks at how business owners unknowingly lose tens of thousands simply by leaving cash in the wrong account — and how a few small tweaks can make your money work a lot harder without adding stress or complexity.

Because sometimes the biggest leaks aren’t dramatic… they’re just quietly happening in the background.

Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

Quote of The Day

“Do not confuse motion with progress. You can run in place for years and still never move closer to the life you actually want.”

— Naval Ravikant

Market Update

*Market data represents the most recent market close at 5:00pm ET

Market Update: Markets pushed higher today with a broad-based rally across major indexes, signaling renewed risk appetite. The Nasdaq led the charge, climbing 0.95% as tech regained momentum, while the S&P 500 added 0.65%, showing steady participation across sectors. The Dow Jones followed closely behind with a 0.48% gain, reinforcing the market’s overall bullish tone.

Bitcoin pulled back modestly (-0.64%), suggesting some short-term profit-taking after recent strength rather than a shift in trend. Meanwhile, commodities stole the spotlight — Gold jumped 1.25% and Silver surged 5.92%, signaling strong demand for hard assets and inflation hedges.

On the stock front, Google advanced 0.96%, reflecting continued confidence in big tech leaders, while Ford slipped 1.39%. Robinhood remained mostly flat, hinting at cautious sentiment among retail traders.

Overall, today’s action points to a healthy risk-on environment, with equities rising alongside strong commodity flows — a sign that capital is rotating, not retreating.

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World

Pope Leo warns that war is once again becoming normalized in global politics, urging diplomats to resist escalating conflicts through rhetoric and arms. He emphasized that repeated crises are eroding moral restraint and called for renewed commitment to diplomacy. The address was framed as a caution against accepting perpetual conflict as inevitable.

A powerful winter storm battered the UK and France, bringing heavy snow, flooding, and travel disruptions across major cities and rural regions. Authorities issued weather warnings as temperatures plunged and transport networks struggled to keep pace. Emergency services reported thousands of power outages and dangerous road conditions.

Trump’s latest foreign policy rhetoric has unsettled European leaders, who fear the dismissal of international law could weaken long-standing alliances. Officials worry the stance could embolden unilateral actions and destabilize existing security frameworks. The comments have reignited debates over Europe’s strategic independence.

Travel

Northbound lanes on Interstate 5 near the Ship Canal Bridge are set to close overnight, causing major traffic disruptions for commuters. Transportation officials recommend alternate routes as crews carry out urgent maintenance work. Delays are expected to ripple into surrounding neighborhoods.

Atlanta’s transit system is drawing attention after a train timing milestone sparked curiosity and debate among riders. Officials say the unusual interval highlights both operational precision and the challenges of maintaining aging infrastructure. The moment has gone viral among local commuters.

Hilton has cut ties with a Minneapolis hotel after allegations it refused accommodations to federal immigration agents. The company cited policy violations and emphasized its stance on cooperation with lawful authorities. The move has intensified debate around corporate responsibility and immigration enforcement.

Science

NASA is preparing for its Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed lunar flight in decades and a major step toward sustained moon exploration. The mission will test spacecraft systems and life-support capabilities ahead of future landings. Astronauts selected for the crew are undergoing final training phases.

China’s experimental fusion reactor has reportedly surpassed a key energy threshold, bringing scientists closer to practical fusion power. The breakthrough suggests longer sustained plasma reactions than previously achieved. Researchers caution that commercial fusion remains years away despite the progress.

Astronomers have identified a distant galaxy cluster with temperatures exceeding the surface of the sun, challenging existing models of cosmic formation. The discovery raises new questions about how extreme heat is generated on such massive scales. Scientists say the finding could reshape understanding of early-universe physics.

Today’s Snapshot

How Business Owners Lose Tens of Thousands by Letting Cash Sit in the Wrong Account

This is not about low interest rates.
This is not about “investing excess cash.”
This is not about budgeting or discipline.

This is about where cash physically lives during the year — and how that choice can increase taxes, reduce flexibility, and block smarter moves without anyone noticing.

Most owners assume:

“Cash is cash. As long as it’s in the business, it’s fine.”

That assumption is the problem.

The Core Issue: Ownership of Cash vs. Location of Cash

Business owners confuse three different things:

  • who owns the cash

  • where the cash is held

  • how the cash is treated by banks, lenders, and the IRS

Those are not the same.

Money sitting in a business checking account behaves very differently than the same dollars sitting in an owner’s personal account — even if it’s “all yours anyway.”

And that difference creates invisible costs.

Where the Damage Actually Happens

1. Retained Cash Quietly Increases Your Risk (Without Increasing Your Return)

When excess cash piles up inside a business entity:

  • it becomes exposed to business liabilities

  • it increases the target size in disputes or lawsuits

  • it can complicate insurance and creditor negotiations

  • it inflates balance sheets in ways lenders don’t reward

Most businesses don’t earn meaningful yield on idle operating cash.

So the tradeoff becomes:

More risk. Same return. Less flexibility.

That’s a bad deal.

2. Cash Trapped in the Business Reduces Personal Tax Control

Owners often think:

“I’ll leave the cash in the company and pull it later.”

What they don’t realize:

  • distributions often get decided after the tax year ends

  • timing mismatches can push income into worse years

  • missed distribution windows can create unnecessary tax spikes

  • personal deductions and offsets may go unused

You didn’t avoid taxes.
You just gave up control over when you pay them.

3. Excess Business Cash Changes How Banks Treat You

This one surprises people.

Large idle balances inside a business can:

  • reduce access to certain credit structures

  • signal inefficient capital use

  • complicate covenant calculations

  • weaken negotiating leverage

Banks like predictable operating liquidity — not cash hoarding.

Too much money in the wrong account can make financing worse, not better.

4. Owners Delay Personal Investing Without Realizing It

When cash stays inside the business “just in case,” owners often:

  • postpone personal investing

  • skip tax-advantaged accounts

  • miss compounding windows

  • default to reactive decisions later

The money feels busy because it’s “in the business.”

But functionally, it’s idle.

Opportunity cost doesn’t send invoices — so it gets ignored.

Why This Is Rarely Flagged (Even by Advisors)

No one is incentivized to raise this.

  • CPAs see balances, not behavioral intent

  • bookkeepers track accuracy, not strategy

  • banks focus on compliance, not optimization

  • owners assume it’s conservative to wait

Everyone is technically doing their job.

No one asks:

“Does this cash need to live here?”

What Actually Works (Without Complexity)

This is not aggressive.

It’s just deliberate.

Periodically separate cash into three buckets:

  • true operating cash (needed in the next 60–90 days)

  • business reserve cash (risk buffer, clearly defined)

  • excess owner cash (no operational purpose)

Only the first bucket needs to live in the business account.

The rest should be intentionally placed — not accidentally parked.

The moment you can’t clearly explain why cash is sitting somewhere, it probably shouldn’t be there.

Who This Hits Hardest

This mistake shows up most in:

  • profitable small businesses

  • solo founders

  • professional services firms

  • owners with steady monthly revenue

  • people who “play it safe” with money

Ironically, it’s the disciplined owners who lose the most here.

Thought Of The Day

Lasting success comes from clear thinking, long-term patience, and the courage to ignore noise while consistently building skills that compound quietly over time.

That’s All For Today

I hope you enjoyed today’s issue of The Wealth Wagon. If you have any questions regarding today’s issue or future issues feel free to reply to this email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Come back tomorrow for another market update, and snapshot. I hope to see you. 🤙

— Ryan Rincon, CEO and Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.

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