November 25, 2025

Happy Tuesday, everyone! 🌞✨

Good morning! I hope you’re waking up feeling energized, grateful, and maybe even just a little curious about what the day might bring. There’s something special about a Tuesday — it’s calm, steady, and quietly powerful… kind of like the financial concept we’re diving into today.

Let me ask you this to start your morning:
How different would your life feel if you chose your work, instead of needing your work?

Most people don’t think about this until stress, burnout, or a surprise life event forces them to. But the smartest people — the ones who always seem one step ahead — build something called career optionality long before they ever need it.

— Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

— Epictetus

Market Update: Markets surged across the board today as all three major U.S. indexes closed in the green. The Nasdaq led the rally, jumping +2.69% to $22,872.01, boosted by strength in growth and semiconductor names. The S&P 500 followed with a solid +1.55%, while the Dow Jones added +0.44%, signaling broad optimism across sectors.

In crypto, Bitcoin slipped slightly, down -0.29% to $88,016.45, cooling off after yesterday’s momentum. Gold continued to grind higher, up +0.74%, and Silver outperformed with a strong +1.35%, showing renewed interest in defensive metals.

On the equity side, Intel stood out, soaring +3.74% as investors piled back into chipmakers. Meanwhile, Kraft dipped -0.24%, and JP Morgan hovered essentially flat at -0.01%, suggesting a quiet day for financials.

Overall, today’s moves highlight a market leaning risk-on, but still keeping one eye on safety assets like metals.

Your dream retirement isn’t going to fund itself—that’s what your portfolio is for.

When generating income for a comfortable retirement, there are countless options to weigh. Muni bonds, dividends, REITs, Master Limited Partnerships—each comes with risk and oppor-tunity.

The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income from Fisher investments shows you ways you can position your portfolio to help you maintain or improve your lifestyle in retirement.

It also highlights common mistakes, such as tax mistakes, that can make a substantial differ-ence as you plan your well-deserved future.

Download your free copy today.

The U.S. administration confirmed that Trump has accepted an invitation from President Xi to visit Beijing in April, signaling a major step toward easing recent diplomatic tensions. The visit is expected to address trade, defense communication, and regional security. Analysts believe the meeting could either stabilize relations or introduce new uncertainties depending on outcomes.

Australian senator Pauline Hanson faced intense backlash after wearing a burqa into parliament as part of a demand to ban the garment. Critics called the act inflammatory and disrespectful, accusing her of using shock tactics to push her political agenda. The incident has reignited debate in Australia over religious freedom and cultural expression.

A volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in 12,000 years, astonishing geologists and raising concerns for nearby communities. Early seismic readings suggest the eruption could continue for several days, though officials report limited population impact so far. Scientists say the event may offer rare insights into long-dormant volcanic systems.

A major analysis suggests Bitcoin’s crash may have been driven by a combination of tightening Federal Reserve policy, large-scale whale sell-offs, and heightened political scrutiny from Congress. Deutsche Bank notes that recent volatility reflects both structural fragility and speculative excess in the crypto ecosystem. Traders remain cautious as liquidity conditions worsen.

Michael Saylor dismissed fears related to the widely discussed DAT crash, calling Bitcoin’s extreme volatility “Satoshi’s gift” and a natural part of decentralized market discovery. He argued that rapid price swings create long-term buying opportunities for committed holders. The broader market, however, remains rattled by cascading liquidations.

Analysts are split on the future of Bitcoin mining giant MARA as the company faces rising energy costs and falling token prices. Some believe its scale and infrastructure position it well for a rebound, while others warn that profit margins could collapse if the market downturn persists. Investors are watching closely to see whether MARA can adapt to harsher conditions.

A major landlord has agreed to settle with the state of California after being accused of colluding with other property owners to artificially inflate rents in Los Angeles and several other markets. The settlement includes financial penalties and new oversight requirements aimed at preventing future manipulation. Housing advocates say the case highlights growing concerns about price coordination in tight rental markets.

Tyson is preparing to shut down a large meat-processing plant just weeks after claims of industry collusion surfaced in national political discussions. The closure is expected to impact hundreds of workers and disrupt regional supply chains. Company officials cite shifting market conditions, though critics argue broader competitive pressures may be at play.

A lawsuit alleges that defects in a Tesla vehicle triggered a fiery crash that killed a woman in Tacoma, prompting renewed scrutiny of the company’s safety systems. Attorneys claim the vehicle malfunctioned moments before impact, causing a catastrophic failure. Regulators may investigate whether the incident reflects isolated error or indicates deeper engineering concerns.

Most people think about money strictly in terms of income, budgeting, and investing.

But there’s a silent wealth factor almost nobody talks about — and it affects your lifetime earnings more than the stock market, inflation, or even your job title.

It’s called career optionality.

And if you don’t intentionally build it, you eventually hit a ceiling — either in income, lifestyle, or freedom.

Today, let’s unpack what career optionality actually is, why it matters, and how to build it no matter where you are in your life.

This is real, practical, strategic financial leverage that applies to employees, entrepreneurs, investors, and beginners.

Career optionality is your ability to pivot — into higher income, better environments, new industries, or more autonomy — without your financial life collapsing.

It’s the difference between:

Optionality gives you:

It’s a wealth multiplier because the more options you have, the less you tolerate low-value situations — and the faster your income grows.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

A 6-figure salary doesn’t mean you have options.

You might be highly paid but:

This means one bad reorganization, one market shift, one new technology, one toxic boss — and your income (and stress level) can collapse overnight.

In contrast, someone with strong optionality has built a buffer of career momentum that no company can take away.

Career optionality increases wealth in three ways:

If your employer knows you have options, you negotiate:

People without optionality negotiate from fear.
People with optionality negotiate from power.

You can pursue:

…without risking financial collapse.

Most people think they need to quit their job or become an entrepreneur.

Not true.

Build any two of these levers and your optionality skyrockets.

Skills that are useful across industries and economic cycles:

If your skills work in multiple markets, you never get stuck.

This might be the most underrated career asset today.

Examples:

This makes opportunities find you — and gives you leverage in any negotiation.

Not 2,000 LinkedIn connections.

10–50 people who:

This is the real safety net.
And it’s also the biggest income multiplier.

Money alone doesn’t create freedom.

Options create freedom.
Options create confidence.
Options create upward mobility.

Career optionality is the wealth-building strategy behind every high-income professional, every successful entrepreneur, and every person who seems “lucky” when opportunities come their way.

Build optionality now — before you need it — and your income, your security, and your opportunities will all expand.

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