November 13, 2025

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Good morning! I hope you’re feeling focused, grateful, and maybe even a little excited for what today has in store. Thursdays are underrated — they’ve got that “almost there” Friday energy without the weekend rush. Perfect for thinking clearly and making great moves.

Here’s something to chew on with your morning coffee: when it comes to money, most people don’t make bad decisions — they just make rushed or overthought ones. The real win? Learning how to think clearly, not constantly.

That’s exactly what today’s post explores: How to Make Smarter Financial Decisions (Without Overthinking Everything). Because building wealth isn’t about perfection — it’s about direction. A calm, confident “yes” beats an anxious “maybe” every time.

— Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

— Bill Gates

Market Update: Markets showed mixed direction, but overall sentiment leaned positive. The Dow Jones led major indexes, gaining +0.68% to $48,254.82, while the S&P 500 nudged up +0.06% to $6,850.92. The Nasdaq dipped slightly -0.26% to $23,406.46, with some tech names cooling off after strong recent gains.

In the crypto space, Bitcoin continued to face selling pressure, slipping -1.30% to $101,749.40 as investors rotated into traditional assets. Meanwhile, precious metals surged — Gold jumped +2.04% to $4,200.40, and Silver soared +5.17% to $53.37, both benefiting from a softer dollar and rising safe-haven demand.

Among individual stocks, Broadcom rose +0.93% to $355.22, buoyed by optimism in semiconductor demand and AI infrastructure. Disney climbed +1.57% to $116.65 as streaming metrics and park attendance showed strength. On the downside, CoreWeave fell sharply -3.35% to $85.43, reflecting volatility across smaller AI-related firms.

💡 The takeaway: Commodities and classic blue chips led the charge as investors balanced risk and reward. Tech cooled, crypto stumbled, but the overall tone remains resilient — a day where diversification clearly paid off.

NVIDIA officially reports earnings November 19, but you can get a sneak peek right now.

Not just for NVIDIA, but for dozens of public companies.

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Venezuela has announced a “massive mobilization” of its military forces along key border regions, citing heightened security threats. U.S. officials are closely monitoring the situation amid concerns that the move could destabilize already tense regional relations. Analysts warn that any escalation may complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts in Latin America.

A powerful series of solar storms has produced dazzling northern lights visible across much of the United States. The geomagnetic activity, caused by charged particles from the sun, lit up skies as far south as Texas and Arizona. Scientists say the storms could briefly disrupt satellite communications and power grids but pose minimal long-term risk.

Nearly 900 flights were canceled early Wednesday as severe weather and staffing shortages hit major U.S. airports. The widespread disruptions stranded thousands of passengers and caused ripple effects across several airlines. Carriers are working to rebook travelers, but delays are expected to persist through the evening.

House lawmakers have returned to Washington to negotiate an end to the ongoing government shutdown, now entering another critical phase. Leaders from both parties are signaling cautious optimism, though key disagreements over spending priorities remain unresolved. Economists warn that continued gridlock could harm growth and consumer confidence heading into the holidays.

Speaker Mike Johnson addressed reporters today, outlining his proposal to reopen the government through a short-term spending bill. His plan includes temporary funding extensions for essential agencies while broader budget talks continue. Analysts say the compromise could buy time but may face opposition from both political extremes.

Senator Chuck Schumer is facing criticism from within his party as the shutdown nears its conclusion, though insiders say his leadership remains secure. Lawmakers credit him for maintaining unity through tense negotiations, despite growing frustration over delays. The episode underscores mounting fatigue in Congress over repeated fiscal standoffs.

Valve has unveiled a new generation of its Steam Machine and Steam Controller, marking its reentry into the gaming hardware market. The updated devices are designed for seamless integration with SteamOS and cloud gaming platforms. Industry watchers say the move could help Valve regain ground in the fast-evolving console and PC hybrid market.

New leaks suggest the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a thicker, heavier design, housing upgraded camera components and a larger battery. The redesign points to Apple’s focus on performance and durability over thinness. Tech analysts believe it signals a new phase in the company’s hardware philosophy aimed at professional users.

OpenAI has introduced GPT-5.1, describing it as “warmer” and more contextually aware than its predecessors. The model promises smoother conversation flow, improved reasoning, and enhanced creative output. Early testers report a noticeable improvement in responsiveness, setting a new standard for next-generation AI assistants.

Let’s be real — money decisions can be stressful.

You’re sitting there wondering:
“Should I invest more or save more?”
“Should I buy the house or wait?”
“Should I start the business or stay at my job?”

And because you don’t want to make the wrong move, you freeze — and do nothing.

Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: the cost of indecision is often higher than the cost of a mistake.
Mistakes can be fixed. Lost time? Not so much.

So today, let’s simplify how to make smarter financial decisions — without needing a PhD in economics or a crystal ball.

This one’s simple: you don’t need 100% of the information to make a good decision.

If you have about 70% of the facts, and the downside isn’t catastrophic — make the move.

Why? Because waiting for perfect information is just perfectionism dressed up as “research.”

Example:

Start small, learn as you go, and adjust later.

Small, consistent action beats delayed “perfect” action every single time.

Money triggers emotion. Fear, greed, excitement, regret — it’s all in there.
And emotion clouds judgment.

Here’s a simple exercise to neutralize that:

Before making a financial decision, ask yourself:

It’s incredible how much clearer things become when emotion steps out of the room.

When in doubt, default to logic and long-term thinking:

Here’s a concept wealthy people live by: don’t make decisions that trap you.

Optionality = keeping doors open.

Every move you make should increase your future choices, not limit them.

Examples:

The rich don’t just chase profits — they chase flexibility.
Every smart decision you make today should give you more options later.

When you’re stuck, use this 4-part filter:

1️⃣ Does it grow your assets or income?
If yes → move forward.

2️⃣ Does it reduce stress or risk long-term?
If yes → it’s worth doing.

3️⃣ Can it be reversed or fixed easily if wrong?
If yes → act faster.

4️⃣ Would your future self thank you for this?
If yes → stop overthinking.

This framework works for everything — from buying a car to choosing investments to launching a business.

Every open decision in your mind takes up mental bandwidth.

When you’re constantly juggling unfinished financial choices —
“Should I refinance?” “Should I start that side business?” “Should I move my investments?” —
your brain burns energy just holding them open.

The cure? Decide quickly on small things so you have energy for the big things.

Every quick, clear decision you make frees mental space for the stuff that really matters — like strategy, growth, and creativity.

This one’s for business owners and ambitious professionals: when something expands your skills, connections, or visibility — lean yes.

You can always narrow later, but growth requires a period of saying yes more than no.

That could mean:

You don’t learn leverage by sitting on the sidelines.

So when opportunity knocks, stop analyzing the hinges. Just open the door.

Here’s something most financially smart people do differently: they review their decisions without beating themselves up.

Once a quarter, take 20 minutes to review your choices:

This reflection turns “mistakes” into tuition.

If you made a bad investment or business call — fine. Learn, adjust, and move forward.
Regret wastes time. Reflection compounds wisdom.

The smartest financial thinkers aren’t fortune tellers — they’re just decisive learners.

They act with enough information, accept imperfection, and use feedback to improve.

You don’t need to make perfect decisions. You just need to keep making better ones.

So next time you’re staring down a big choice — investing, business, career, whatever — don’t wait for certainty.

Make the call.
Learn.
Iterate.

Because wealth isn’t built by knowing everything.
It’s built by those who decide, act, and adapt faster than everyone else.