Good morning Reader!

Ahead of tax season starting in just a few days (Jan 26), the IRS has issued IP PINs for this year. If you're concerned about tax identity theft, here's how to get your PIN.

Also, the Federal Reserve is set to meet next week and traders believe there's a 95% chance they keep rates the same. A small 5% chance they'll cut it by 25 basis points. As a result, we're not seeing any movement in savings and CD rates.

💲 Best Bank Rates (as of 1/20/2026):

• High Yield Savings - 4.31% APY from Axos Bank​
• Short Term Treasury - VBIL - 3.63%
• Certificates of Deposit (see rates on CD Valet)
  • Best: ​4.15% from TPO Bank (6mo)
  • 3 months: 4.11% from OMB Bank
  • 6 months: ​4.15% from TPO Bank
  • 12 months: 4.10% from Morgan Stanley Private Bank (E*Trade)
• Bank Bonuses - $450 US Bank, $400 BMO, $325 Wells Fargo, $200 Barclays & more​

​(View this email as a webpage)​

📀 How to avoid panicking in a volatile market

The stock market fell hard yesterday. Both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ fell over 2% and the Dow dropped fell around 870 points.

Why? Mostly because of Greenland.

Well, I should say, mostly because of President Trump about Greenland and the international response to his fixation.

Not underlying economic conditions, which by some measures are worsening too, but because of that news and the potential fallout.

(that said, you should invest anyway)

Here's how to remain calm during these times of turbulence:

​👉 How to avoid panicking in a volatile market​

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🪙 Don't hoard loyalty points

Here's a sad story of a person who lost 62,000 Dunkin' points when they changed their policy to expire points a year after they are earned. He lost about $260 and had planned to let his kids use it.

Do not hoard loyalty points! They can expire them, devalue them or the rewards redemption amounts, and you have no recourse.

​📺 Massive loyalty program breakdown​

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🃏 If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying

I don't play poker online (I used to play 25+ years ago in college, but anyone who has played poker knows it's mostly really really boring) but this video has convinced me never to try it ever.

Reminds me a little of what's happening on event predictions sites like Kalshi...

​👉 Watch a bot farm collude at poker​

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

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Talk to you soon!

Jim

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PS. Would you be interested in beta-testing a free short email course about building an emergency fund? If so, click here.​

​(see archive of previous emails)​