Design software company Canva is sketching out its next milestone: a $42 billion* valuation built on its latest employee stock sale. Its tender offer allows eligible current and former employees to sell up to $3 million in vested shares priced at just over $1,600.

This liquidity moment is creating value for some team members — a chance to turn their hard work into a financial reward. That matters, as one third (33%) of Americans are thinking about how to grow their money and how to achieve long-term security (30%), according to Empower research.

And for Canva, the move underscores its position as one of the world’s most valuable private tech companies, with an IPO perhaps on the horizon.

— The Editors 

🪃 Flexible funds: 529 plans provide tax advantages and now apply to a wider set of education costs. Any earnings are tax-free and aren’t taxed at withdrawal when used for qualified expenses. If life plans change, up to $35,000 could be rolled into a Roth IRA, if eligible. Learn how to harness the benefits of newly expanded 529 plans.

🥤Fizzy megadeal: Keurig Dr. Pepper plans to acquire the company behind Peet’s Coffee for $18.4 billion.* After closing, the coffee and soft drinks businesses are expected to be separated into two U.S.-listed companies with projected annual sales of $16 billion and $11 billion, respectively. As grocery spending has risen, drink habits have shifted: Between 2020 and 2024, U.S. coffee consumption declined by about 1.1%* annually.

🔀 Many moves: Americans juggle multiple paths to build wealth. New Empower research points to investing (26%), career advancement (25%), and retirement savings (24%) as the top strategies.

🛍️ Retail rebound: Macy’s shares jumped 19%* after its first quarterly sales growth in three years. Leaders say customer feedback drove tweaks to merchandising and staffing, and a focus on top-performing locations — trimming the chain to about 350 stores.

Work first

Adulthood looks different than it did 50 years ago. In 1975, 45%* of 25- to 34-year-olds had reached four key milestones: living away from parents, working, married, having children. In 2024, that share dropped to 21%, while the most common path shifted to an economic-first combo: 28% were working and living independently without marriage or kids, up from just 6% in 1975.

Health and wealth

Employer health benefit costs are projected to rise 6.5%* in 2026 — the biggest increase since 2010 — even after planned cost controls. If employers made no changes, costs would climb nearly 9%, driven by specialty drugs and higher utilization. However, people buying coverage through the ACA marketplace could face proposed increases of about 20%.*

Health and finances often align: 31% of people prioritize building a healthcare fund before retirement, according to Empower findings. In addition, couples could need as much as $413,000 for healthcare costs in retirement. 

In case you missed it — read on:

• Why Americans keep cars longer and what it says about saving strategies.

• Required minimum distributions aren’t always needed immediately. Check out how to make a tax-efficient plan for RMDs.

• Retirement is a time of evolving essentials and splurges. Consider how to strike the right spending balance.

Trading up

Shoppers are snapping up collectible cards in hopes of a winning hand. U.S. toy sales rose 6%* between January and April, boosted by Pokémon and sports card releases. Resale is surging, too, with eBay noting 10 straight quarters of trading-card sales growth.

The hunt spans generations: Nearly 1 in 5 adults have bought Pokémon cards for themselves (but only about a quarter of them play). “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary joined a group to buy a signed Kobe Bryant/Michael Jordan card for nearly $13 million* — a record at auction.