Good day Reader!

You may start hearing the term K-shaped economy and wondering what it means. Companies that span the economic spectrum, like hotels and airlines, are seeing this in their business. (Marriott CEO just said this)

It means that the economy is split in two groups and higher income households are doing better while lower income households are doing worse.

It's the phrase "the rich get richer."

Wealth inequality, measured by the Gini index, reported by the World Bank for FRED indicates we are at/near all-time highs.

So if it feels like the economy is doing well, you're right.

And if it feels like the economy isn't doing well, you're also right.

It's a K-shaped economy.

💲 Best Bank Rates (as of 2/10/2026):

• High Yield Savings - 4.30% APY from Valleydirect (promo rate)
• Short Term Treasury - VBIL - 3.56%
• Certificates of Deposit (see 30k+ rates on CD Valet)
  • Best: 4.27% from Climate First Bank (6mo)
  • 3 months: 3.96% from Bank of Utah
  • 12 months: 4.10% from E*Trade
  • 60 Months: 4.00% from Sallie Mae Bank
• Bank Bonuses - $450 US Bank, $400 BMO, $200 Barclays, $1500 Marcus & more​

​(View this email as a webpage)​

🏠 Using ChatGPT to contest property taxes

Three years ago, I contested our property taxes and secured a ~20% decrease. (we appealed the Qualify Factor multiplier)

Maryland assesses every three years so when I got my form this year, I asked ChatGPT for help because I didn't know what to do next.

You may not live in Maryland but you could easily use this same method in your state.

Here's how it's going...

​👉 How I Used ChatGPT to Contest Property Taxes​

(FYI, Ownwell isn't available in Maryland)

🧧 Need red envelopes?

If you need red envelopes for Lunar New Year, try your bank!

I was able to get a bunch from Chase absolutely free. Call your bank and see if they have any.

​👉 Get red envelopes from your bank! (on Instagram)

💬 What You'll Wish You'd Known

Written by Paul Graham in 2005, this talk (which was intended for a high school but never given) is worth reading regardless of your age.

I love many parts but this one is good especially today:

"But there are other jobs you can't learn about, because no one is doing them yet. Most of the work I've done in the last ten years didn't exist when I was in high school. The world changes fast, and the rate at which it changes is itself speeding up. In such a world it's not a good idea to have fixed plans."

Please enjoy:

​👉 What You'll Wish You'd Known​

What did you think of today's email?​
✅ I Loved It! 🟨 It Was Okay ❌ Not My Favorite​

Talk to you soon!

Jim

PS. Are you on Facebook? I created a new Facebook page for me and the blog, be one of our first followers!​

​(see archive of previous emails)​