November 18, 2025

Happy Tuesday, everyone! 🌤️

Good morning — I hope you woke up today feeling even slightly more rested than yesterday (we’ll take the wins where we can). If not, that’s okay… because today’s topic is all about making life easier, not harder.

Here’s a fun thought to start your morning:
What if your money worked harder than you did?

Seriously — imagine a world where your bills pay themselves, your investments grow on autopilot, and your savings stack up quietly in the background… while you’re out living your actual life. No stress. No spreadsheets at midnight. No “did I pay that bill?” panic.

That’s what today’s post is all about: building your own Personal Financial Operating System — a simple, steady structure that handles the heavy lifting for you. Because wealth isn’t built by being perfect… it’s built by building systems.

— Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

— Henry David Thoreau

Market Update: The markets took a broad step back today, with nearly every major index and asset class closing in the red. The Nasdaq dropped -0.84% to $22,708.07, while the S&P 500 slid -0.92% and the Dow Jones retreated -1.18%, signaling a clear risk-off mood across equities.

Crypto wasn’t spared either — Bitcoin slipped -2.15% to $92,166.44, continuing its volatile pullback. Safe-haven metals also weakened, with Gold down -1.20% and Silver off -1.25%, suggesting investors weren’t rotating into defensive commodities but instead stepping to the sidelines altogether.

In individual names, Pfizer managed the only green print of the session, inching up +0.08% to $25.08, showing quiet resilience amid a sea of declines. Meanwhile, Nvidia fell -1.88% and Microsoft dipped -0.53%, reflecting weakness in mega-cap tech as traders reassessed valuations and macro pressure.

Overall, it was a rare all-red day, marked by broad selling and cautious sentiment across sectors, crypto, and commodities — with Pfizer standing out as the lone bright spot.

Mark Spitznagel, who made $1B in a single day during the 2015 flash crash, warns markets are mimicking 1929. Yeah, just another oracle spouting gloom and doom, right?

Vanguard and Goldman Sachs forecast just 5% and 3% annual S&P returns respectively for the next decade (2024-2034).

Bonds? Not much better.

Enough warning signals—what’s something investors can actually do to diversify this week?

Almost no one knows this, but postwar and contemporary art appreciated 11.2% annually with near-zero correlation to equities from 1995–2024, according to Masterworks Data.

And sure… billionaires like Bezos and Gates can make headlines at auction, but what about the rest of us?

Masterworks makes it possible to invest in legendary artworks by Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more – without spending millions.

23 exits. Net annualized returns like 17.6%, 17.8%, and 21.5%. $1.2 billion invested.

Shares in new offerings can sell quickly but…

👉 [My subscribers skip the waitlist].*

_{*Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.}

The U.K. is preparing to impose new migrant visa bans modeled after the Trump-era approach in the U.S. The policy would target countries that refuse to take back their citizens when deported, tightening overall immigration controls. Critics warn the move could strain diplomatic ties, while supporters argue it's necessary to maintain border authority.

The United Nations is set to vote on a new Gaza stabilization plan, which includes provisions referencing international oversight and humanitarian guarantees. The proposal comes as global pressure increases to address worsening living conditions in the territory. Diplomats say the vote will be a major test of consensus among Security Council members.

Poland’s prime minister has called a recent rail explosion an “unprecedented act of sabotage,” sparking national concern over infrastructure security. Investigators are working to determine who planted the device and whether foreign actors may have been involved. The incident has intensified calls for stronger transportation safeguards across the country.

The U.S. has rolled back a series of grocery-related tariffs, a move intended to help reduce food prices for consumers. Economists caution, however, that the impact may take several months to show up on shelves due to existing supply contracts and distribution timelines. Retailers are closely watching how the policy shift affects wholesale costs.

New economic estimates suggest $2,000 tariff rebate checks would be directed toward working families if enacted. Policymakers argue the payments are designed to offset elevated living expenses and help households manage inflation. Opponents claim the measure could worsen budget deficits and complicate long-term fiscal planning.

A popular household staple may soon see price increases exceeding 100%, prompting warnings for consumers to stock up. The surge is tied to supply shortages and rising production costs across the agricultural sector. Analysts say the dramatic jump highlights vulnerabilities in global food supply chains.

The TSA is investigating how a meat cleaver managed to pass through airport security and make it onto a plane departing Portland. Officials say the incident is being reviewed as a serious procedural failure with potential security implications. Additional screenings and retraining may follow depending on investigation findings.

A new construction permit has been filed for updates to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, signaling another wave of improvements at the theme park. Fans speculate the enhancements could include upgraded effects, queue redesigns, or expanded accessibility features. The project aligns with broader revitalization efforts across several attractions.

Chicago’s Metra rail service will begin selling holiday train tickets on Monday, marking the start of its popular seasonal program. The festive trains typically sell out quickly due to themed rides, decorations, and family-friendly activities. Transit officials encourage riders to purchase early to secure their preferred dates.

Most people think wealth comes from making more money.
But what actually builds wealth is how you manage the money you already make — especially when your income starts rising.

The problem?
Most people don’t have a real system. They have:

That works when you’re making $40k a year.
It destroys you at $120k, $250k, or when your business starts producing actual cash flow.

So here’s a simple, practical framework to build a Personal Financial Operating System (PFOS) — the same type of system high-net-worth individuals use to stay organized, grow wealth, and avoid lifestyle creep.

This is straight, actionable value — no fluff.

You should never have “one pile of money.”

Every dollar should have a job.

Set up separate accounts for:

Rent, utilities, insurance, groceries, car, subscriptions.

Stocks, index funds, ETFs, crypto, retirement, and brokerage accounts.

Emergency fund, upcoming purchases, travel, yearly expenses.

Courses, books, mentorship, events — anything that increases earning potential.

Trips, restaurants, shopping — guilt-free spending.

When your money has clear “homes,” you avoid overspending and always know exactly where you stand.

The wealthy automate everything because consistency is more valuable than intelligence.

Set automation to:

Automation removes emotion, temptation, forgetfulness, and stress.

The goal is simple:

You shouldn’t have to “try” to manage your money.
It should manage itself.

Use this base model and adjust as needed:

If you're a business owner, income fluctuates — so use percentages, not fixed amounts.

If you're early in your career and income is smaller, flip this:

Small percentages grow shockingly fast when automated.

Not your bank app.
Not your credit card app.

A real dashboard.

Use Notion, Google Sheets, or an app. Track:

This takes 5–7 minutes a week, but it gives you full visibility and control of your financial trajectory.

People who track their net worth grow it significantly faster than people who don’t — simply because they can see what’s working and what’s leaking.

Once a month, ask yourself:

This is the same thing companies do — monthly financial reviews — but for your personal life.

You become the CFO of your finances.

Humans make bad financial decisions when emotional, tired, or stressed.

So build rules that protect you:

Guardrails make wealth building a default outcome, not a heroic effort.

Most people earn more → spend more.
Wealthy people earn more → accelerate the system.

When your salary or profit increases:

This is how high earners become wealthy earners.

The goal isn’t to avoid enjoying your life — the goal is to prevent lifestyle creep from robbing your future wealth.

You don’t need a higher income to get financially ahead.
You need a system that makes your money behave.

This is why some people making $80k build real wealth —
and others making $250k stay broke:

Systems beat income.
Structure beats motivation.
Automation beats discipline.

Build your Personal Financial Operating System once —
and it quietly builds wealth for the rest of your life.

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