Month: June 2025

“AI” Is Changing It All

Call it Tech Summer. Last week’s topic was cryptocurrency; this week’s is AI, or Artificial Intelligence. AI is driving markets and businesses with unstoppable speed. Speaking of speed, today’s note will be a short one!

The original title of today’s TGIF 2 Minutes was, “AI is and will continue to change everything“. But that title was too long. A quick request to an AI assistant for a shorter title offered: “AI is changing it all.” Hence, today’s title. PS. the remainder of today’s note is written by yours truly.

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Crypto Quarterly is Back!

Keeping up with developments in Bitcoin and the world of cryptocurrency is challenging, but not impossible. Especially with AI assistants (like Grok or Chat GPT) answers can be attained – literally instantly – to basic and complex questions. Having dedicated crypto experts and research teams on hand is helpful as well!* “Keeping up with crypto” is a relative term. Merely dipping a toe into the water to learn more is a form of keeping up with this evolving space, so go for it.

Here is a term that helps define how different the various cryptocurrencies are from one another: ecosystems. Cryptocurrency is not a single, big chunk of one “thing”. Rather, there are multiple ecosystems and thousands of interconnected cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is the best-known cryptocurrency, most dominant and most widely accepted for making purchases at this time. Ethereum is another well-known cryptocurrency. Solana is another. Each operates in its own ecosystem and has extremely different qualities.

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Father’s Day & World News

Recent LA and world events – and staying glued to TV & social media news broadcasts – could potentially add a downbeat mood to what is otherwise one of the best-meaning holidays and weekends of the year. Even if Father’s Day does not bring personal good vibes, this mid-June time of the year can be awesome. Consider:

  • It is almost the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere! Sunrise to sunset, lots of daylight. First day of summer and longest day is coming up on June 20th.
  • The men’s US Open golf championship will be decided this Sunday, Father’s Day! The top 5 players so far do not include the usual famous names…so it could be an exciting finish with a lesser-known golfer making US history!
  • The stock markets, despite volatility, are hanging in there with modest gains year-to-date – and more so if a portfolio was thoughtful enough to have a healthy allocation to non-US equities. Do they report that on the news? Considering previous world events that rocked markets in 2020, 2022 and earlier in 2025, US and global markets recognize the immense advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the chips and technology that are driving this unstoppable force.
  • What is your favorite food? Might it be peaches? Tomatoes? Blueberries? Watermelon? These items are in season! Even if chocolate or cake is your favorite food, try adding peaches or blueberries. Even the price of eggs is down massively. The news does not report these positive data points in the headlines.

Enjoy the almost start to summer, try to unplug and enjoy the weekend and Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all the great Dads and father figures!

This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, tax, legal or accounting advice

Tariffs, Car Payments & Cell Phones

Tariffs. Car payments. Cell phones. What do these three things have in common? All three are currently on most people’s minds, and two are expensive considerations for every person’s or family’s financial plan.

As for tariffs, the uncertainty around where tariffs, and now also tax legislation, will settle in is on most people’s minds. Tariff “policy” is still in the throes of global negotiation and lack of clarity. Will the US consumer benefit in any way? Will tariffs lead to continued painful inflation in the US? What about future economic relationships between the US and the rest of the world? Much is up in the air. Certain companies and business owners are in flux regarding future investment and decision-making. Meanwhile, overall, employers and consumers seem to be plodding along in a net-net positive direction.

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