The breakup? It’s strictly business.

Kraft Heinz is considering a $20 billion spin-off of its grocery division, separating Kraft and Oscar Mayer from its faster-growing condiments portfolio. It’s an on-again, off-again relationship that could reverse its 2015 mega-merger. Honeywell and Warner Bros. Discovery are also among this year’s headline-making splits.

Americans, too, are rethinking old commitments: Empower research shows 83% say they’ve broken up with the idea that major money milestones must happen by a certain age. Still, people are focused on the long term, as 42% see retirement planning as their top wealth-building opportunity.

— The Editors 

🔗 Unbreakable bonds: Investors added $7.4 billion to long-term bond funds in May, signaling renewed interest in stable, income-generating assets. With bond ETFs and mutual funds now offering 3.5% to 5.2% yields — and 10-year Treasury rates near 5% — investing $10,000 could generate up to $520 in annual interest.

💕 Fleeting feelings: Meme stocks like Krispy Kreme and Kohl’s surged as much as 105% this summer, fueled by social media virality and retail investor hype. Many investors balance FOMO with diversification – read more on The Currency^TM. 

⚡Breaking the mold: Women are becoming their own boss at unprecedented rates. In 2024, female entrepreneurs started 49% of all new businesses — a 69% increase from 2019 — while overall new business formation jumped 20% year-over-year in June. Empower research finds that nearly half of women (46%) cite financial independence as core to happiness, and 68% highlight living debt free.

🔥 New flame: Bath & Body Works is courting Gen Z shoppers with 600* new college campus locations rolling out this fall. The expansion aims to build on a Q1 rebound, with net sales up 3% to $1.4 billion. Gen Z spent $246 on personal care in July, according to Empower Personal Dashboard^TM data.

Flavor rebound

Starbucks will launch its seasonal menu on August 26, with the Pumpkin Spiced Latte (PSL) returning to stores alongside a new addition — the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado. Still riding its 20-year legacy, the PSL boosts foot traffic by about 24% on launch day, hitting over a 45% increase in states like North Dakota last year.

Empower research shows four in 10 Americans are expecting higher prices for pumpkin spice flavors this year due to tariffs and inflation. Still, more than half look forward to purchasing these specialty items (54%). 

In case you missed it — read on.

• Fed rates are going steady — here’s what it means for personal finances.

• Mortgage lending is calling it quits with FICO exclusivity.

• All about the 401(k) millionaire next door.

Career chemistry

Some personalities may be better suited for the operating room — or the cockpit. A new report* highlights top-paying roles aligned with Myers-Briggs personality types, based on traits like structure, boldness, and creativity:

👩‍⚕️ ISTJ (The Logistician): Surgeon – $239,200 annual median salary, 4% job growth by 2033
✈️ ESTJ (The Executive): Airline captain – $198,100, 5% growth
📺 ENFP (The Campaigner): Advertising director – $159,660, 8% growth
📊 ESTP (The Entrepreneur): Sales manager – $138,060, 6% growth

Breakup bangs 

As the cost of haircuts climbs — up 19% since 2021 per the latest CPI data — some consumers are embracing low-maintenance looks, stretching appointments further apart, or skipping the blowout. The trend, dubbed “recession hair,”* reflects a style pivot and a budget-conscious strategy: People are cutting visits to salons — some of which charge up to $400* in top markets.