Good morning Reader!

You should watch this explanation of the Yen Carry trade and how its unwinding impacts our economy and your personal finances.

As a long term investor, I am not adjusting my allocations or making any other significant changes. I will, however, make sure that my actual allocations match my targets.

I believe in remaining informed, even if it doesn't affect my actions, because then I won't be surprised when something happens.

The market is dominated so heavily by news (tariffs, Iran war, oil, Fed activity, etc.) and the unwinding of the Yen Carry trade doesn't roll off the tongue.

Heck, the market soared yesterday because of Iran news.

So while the Yen carry trade has a big long-term simmering type of impact, it doesn't look sexy as a headline so few people talk about it.

💲 Best Bank Rates (as of 3/31/2026):

• High Yield Savings - 4.21% APY from Axos​
• Short Term Treasury - VBIL 3.56%, SGOV 3.54%
• Certificates of Deposit (see 30k+ rates on CD Valet)
  • 🔍 We list nationwide rates, CD Valet has many local rates which may be higher so click through to double check.
  • Best: 4.25% from OMB Bank (5mo)
  • 6 months: 4.15% from LimeLight Bank
  • 12 months: 4.15% from Credit One Bank​
  • 60 Months: 4.05% from Credit One Bank​
• Bank Bonuses - $450 US Bank, $400 BMO, $1500 Raisin​

​(View this email as a webpage)​

🏠 UPDATE: ChatGPT contested my property taxes

After six weeks, Howard County responded to my ChatGPT-driven appeal to our property taxes.

We got a modest 2% reduction (better than nothing!) but ChatGPT thinks we can do better with another written appeal based on price per square footage.

It'll only cost me a stamp so I gave it a shot!

Here's the full story:

​👉 How I Used ChatGPT to Appeal Our Property Taxes​

🤖 Origin AI Financial Advisor

​Origin is a personal AI financial advisor and they offering up a year of their service for $1 (then renews at $99/year).

I haven't used them yet but this is a good way to give them a try for very little.

​👉 Try Origin for $1​

🗞️ In Case You Missed It

Here are some interesting articles you may have missed:

• ​Index Funds Aren’t Boring. You’re Just Addicted to Feeling Smart [Money Changes Everything] - "Getting bored with index funds is like getting bored with drinking water. Eventually, someone with a podcast will try to sell you structured notes with adaptogens."
• ​They’re Rich but Not Famous—and They’re Suddenly Everywhere [Wall Street Journal] - "There are about 430,000 U.S. households worth $30 million or more, according to an analysis of Federal Reserve data by Zidar. Within that, there are about 74,000 worth $100 million or more. Over the past few decades, the growth in the number of very rich households has surpassed general population growth."
• ​How I Found a Top-Performing Vanguard Fund by Accident [Morningstar] - "One of Vanguard’s best-performing mutual funds is in my portfolio. It’s been there for years, long before it outranked 99% of its global large-stock value Morningstar Category peers over most trailing periods through February. [...] Here’s my secret: There is no secret. It was an accident. Dumb luck."
• ​The Art of Comparison: How to Compare Well [Mr-Stingy] - "It’s good to sneak a peek at wealthier people and get inspired. It’s unproductive when too much leads to negative feelings like jealousy and resentment."
• ​It's a woman's economy now [Axios] - "For only the third time ever, there are more women employed in the U.S. than men, according to federal data highlighted in a report from Indeed, the jobs site."
• ​Crazy-Fast Logistics of Flower Distribution [Half as Interesting]

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 concerned about your identity and data online? If so, I created a free short email course that walks through steps you can take to protect yourself. Click here to get it.

​(see archive of previous emails)​