Even for a masterpiece, it can take centuries to get a room of one’s own.

Soon, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” will have a private exhibition space as part of the Louvre’s estimated $834 million* renovation. The museum is the most visited in the world, with the portrait drawing 80%* of its visitors each year.

The art of success often comes down to taking a long-term view: Empower research finds that 46% of people believe in the power of compounding savings and making smart investment decisions, as well as financial education (36%).

— The Editors 

🎨 Painting a picture of balance: The Federal Reserve Board held interest rates steady* in January after three cuts since last September. It may be a measured move, as the labor market shows signs of stabilizing, while inflation is still running a little hot.

🔗 Bonds in vogue: A recent auction of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) saw yields at their highest since 2009.* The $20 billion TIPS sale was awarded at 2.243%. Similarly, 10-year Treasury note yields have climbed to 4.53%,* more than double the levels from a decade ago, and I bond rates are at the highest they’ve been in 16 years. With inflation and rate uncertainty in play, investors are seeking* higher bond yields to offset decreased purchasing power.¹

⌚ A timepiece worth every second: The pre-owned luxury watch market is ticking toward parity* with its primary counterpart. Certified pre-owned programs are bolstering buyer confidence, while Gen Z’s fascination with mechanical timepieces is driving demand. Twenty percent* of those ages 18-24 say they’re likely to buy a luxury watch in the next year. It could be time for collectors to dive in — Tom Brady’s auctioned pieces fetched $4.6 million,* and Sylvester Stallone’s Patek Philippe went for $5.4 million.*

🖌️ Canvas of wealth: The net worth of Millennials has soared to $15.95 trillion,* up from $3.94 trillion just five years ago. Millennials increased their net worth by almost 13% in 2024 according to Empower Personal Dashboard^TM data. 

Key stroke of genius

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplace tools is changing how businesses operate. Experts predict that by 2028, at least 15% of daily business decisions will be handled autonomously by AI-powered agents.

Asana, which offers cloud-based work management tools, is leveraging the power of AI to help businesses streamline workflows and enhance productivity. The company saw a 45% stock surge after reporting Q3 revenue of $183.9 million.

This growth was bolstered by the launch of AI Studio, a feature that allows teams to collaborate with intelligent agents — advanced AI tools capable of tackling complex tasks without requiring users to write any code. Read more on The Currency^TM.

Portrait perfect

Some brands are tapping into the space where health meets beauty: Hims & Hers Health has seen its stock grow 440%* over the past three years, in part through offerings such as hair growth treatments and GLP-1 weight loss medications.

Sales of at-home beauty tools are predicted to top $92 billion by 2028. High-tech gadgets like LED masks and ultrasonic facial devices are leading the way. The male grooming products market is set to grow 8.3%* by 2030.

In 2024, Americans spent an average of $267 on personal care each month, according to Empower Personal Dashboard data — that’s up 12% from 2021. 

Million-dollar message

A co-worker's friendly text reminding a California man to check his lottery ticket turned out to be nothing short of life changing: The ticket matched five out of six numbers for a $1.2 million* win.

Empower research shows 1 in 5 Americans would seek the advice of a financial professional after receiving a windfall. 

Invest well. Live a little.^TM

Empower’s new ad campaign, which celebrates smart financial plays and life’s little splurges, debuted during the AFC Championship game, where a record 57.4 million* fans tuned in to watch the Kansas City Chiefs secure* what will be their third straight Super Bowl appearance.

Speaking of living a little, fans are expected to go all out for Super Bowl Sunday this year, with $18.6 billion* predicted to be spent on food, drinks, and décor, according to the National Retail Federation.