👀 Attention grabber

Anthropic’s revenue jumped 142% in the second quarter — and investors reportedly expect the AI company could be valued at $2 trillion or more when it goes public. See where its potential blockbuster IPO stands now.

IPOs can have “event vibes,” says Empower Chief Investment Strategist Marta Norton, making investors feel like they’re missing something big if they don’t participate. But an IPO is much more than opening-day excitement, and newly public stocks can be volatile.

Still, a great company and a great investment are two different things. Understanding how IPO investing works, including access, pricing, and risks, can help put the buzz into perspective.

— The Editors 

🎒 Underrated: About 20% of Americans aren’t confident they could quickly locate key financial information or personal documents in a hurry. A financial “go bag” can put the important stuff in one place before you need it. Discover 10 essentials to have at the ready. 

📈 Rate reaction: The Federal Reserve just raised* benchmark interest rates for the first time in three years, potentially raising credit card and other borrowing costs. The upside: Higher rates could benefit high-yield savings accounts and new certificates of deposit (CDs). See how the two options stack up.

🌊Believe the buzz? Google searches are up 50%* this year for “Coast FI” — an offshoot of the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement. The idea: Save enough early so compounding can do more of the work toward retirement. The catch? The math relies on assumptions about future returns, inflation, and expenses. See how Coast FI works.

🧊 Worth knowing: Kids can have a credit file long before they need to borrow — creating an opening for identity theft. One way for parents to help protect it is by requesting a credit freeze, then lifting it when needed. See when freezing a child’s credit can be a smart money move.

The “September surge”

TikTokers claim September is prime time to land a new job — and LinkedIn data* suggest there may be something to it. U.S. job postings historically swing from 3% below March levels in August to 14% above them in September, giving the so-called “September Surge” at least some data behind the buzz.

If you’re joining the fall job hunt, don’t overlook who you know: 31% of Americans say their personal network helped them land their current job.

Name names

Quick money check: Who’s listed to receive your accounts? Just 36%* of parents surveyed say they’ve designated beneficiaries on retirement accounts or life insurance policies.

A beneficiary is the person or entity you name to receive certain assets — and those designations can matter more than you might think. 

Learn how beneficiaries work and why keeping them current matters.

Collecting value

What if your collection was worth more than your savings? For 31%* of collectors, it is — and nearly half check the market value of their collectibles at least monthly. From Pokémon cards and Labubus to limited-edition sneakers and watches, collectibles can command serious value, even if nostalgia and emotional connections are top motivators for buying.

But turning a prized collection into cash isn’t always a simple story. Collectibles aren’t always the most liquid assets, and selling or passing them down can come with tax considerations.
 

In case you missed it, read on:

• Get up to speed on new student loan borrowing limits
• See how “wealth multitaskers” are building financial futures
• Tax extension? Get ready for the Oct. 15 deadline