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Grant Cardone: $5 Million Is Now the Magic Number for Retirement Savings - GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates works with many financial advertisers to showcase their products and services to our audiences. These brands compensate us to advertise their products in ads across our site. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site. We are not a comparison-tool and these offers do not represent all available deposit, investment, loan or credit products.

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Grant Cardone: These Are the 3 Money Lessons You Need To Build Wealth - GOBankingRates

Federal regulators on Thursday approved an investment product tied to the cryptocurrency Ether, the most valuable digital asset after Bitcoin, in a major boost for the crypto industry.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said a group of exchanges could begin listing investment products known as exchange-traded funds, or E.T.F.s, linked to the price of Ether. The products would offer an easier and simpler way for people to invest in crypto, potentially boosting prices and promoting wider adoption of digital currencies.

In January, the S.E.C. approved similar products that track the price of Bitcoin, leading to a flurry of new investment that helped propel Bitcoins price to a record high.

The impact of the Ether approval could take longer to hit the market. Before the exchanges can start offering Ether E.T.F.s, the S.E.C. must also approve a separate set of applications from companies that want to issue them, including from major financial firms like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton. That process could take weeks or months, according to financial experts.

An S.E.C. spokeswoman said the agency had no comment beyond a formal order approving the products.

The news prompted celebration in the crypto industry. A representative for 21Shares, one of the companies seeking to offer the Ether investment product, called it an exciting moment for the industry at large.

But industry critics called the approval a dangerous development that would encourage wider investment in a volatile market.

The S.E.C. failed to live up to its mission to protect investors and the markets, Benjamin Schiffrin of Better Markets, a nonprofit that fights for stricter financial regulations, said in a statement.

Offered by mainstream financial services firms, E.T.F.s are essentially baskets of assets rather than buying the assets directly, customers buy shares in these baskets. The products are easy to trade, from brokerage accounts with companies like Vanguard or Charles Schwab, and are popular with wealth advisers and other financial mangers.

In the crypto world, E.T.F.s offer another key advantage: simplicity. Rather than navigating the complexities of an online crypto wallet, a customer could go online and buy shares in a Bitcoin or Ether E.T.F. alongside stocks traded on Wall Street.

For years, crypto advocates have seen these products as a promising way to encourage wider use of digital currencies. Before the Bitcoin E.T.F.s were approved, crypto companies battled the S.E.C. in the courts, securing a legal victory in August that forced the agency to allow the products.

The Bitcoin E.T.F.s have proved to be enormously popular, attracting billions of dollars in investment.

The price of Ether has rebounded over the last few months, after a crypto downturn that started in 2022. Ether currently trades at about $3,800 per coin, more than 20 percent off its high of just under $4,900.

Thats a small fraction of the price of Bitcoin, which trades at about $68,000 per coin.

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Ether Cryptocurrency ETFs Are Approved by the SEC - The New York Times

This current rate of self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety is higher than the pre-pandemic level. In addition, an estimated 35.2 million working days were lost in 2022/23 due to self-reported work-related ill health or injury.

With everything that has been thrown at us in the last twelve months with worries about the cost of living, international unrest and political uncertainty its perhaps no surprise that rates are so high.

Many people are reluctant to resort to prescribed drugs to deal with the problem and look instead to CBD Oil as a possible natural way to deal with stress, along with other conditions.

Researchers think CBD may change the way the brains receptors respond to serotonin, a chemical linked to mental health. One study found that CBD helped people with social anxiety give a speech while other early studies done with animals have shown that CBD could relieve anxiety by:

decreasing physiological effects of anxiety, such as an increased heart rate

improving symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

inducing sleep in cases of insomnia

Meanwhile, a 2011 study working with sufferers of general Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) showed that participants who received a dose of CBD experienced overall reduced anxiety levels compared with those who were given a placebo.

It seems the benefits of CBD and CBD Oils is more than mere hearsay. However, not all CBD Oils are equal and heres why.

The Hemp or Cannabis plant contains many compounds of which cannabidiol (CBD) is just one as is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the part of the plant which is psychoactive and creates the high associated with cannabis or marijuana. The THC must largely be removed from all CBD products sold legally in the UK with a maximum of 0.2% being permitted. Those products which retain 0.2% of THC are called Full Spectrum.

Honey Heaven produces a range of Organic CBD oil products which mix full spectrum CBD oil with CBD distillate, (the purest form of CBD), to make the products extra strong. Full spectrum CBD and distillate retain many other natural cannabinoid compounds found in the Hemp plant. Together these interact with the bodys endocannabinoid system which helps regulate psychological and physiological functions including mood, appetite, sleep, and even pain. This interaction process is known as the entourage effect and imparts maximum health benefits to users.

Honey Heavens CBD products are made in the UK from the highest-quality hemp that is organically and ethically grown by experienced and licensed farmers on outdoor farms in Switzerland. Their CBD range includes drops, sprays, honey and teas to be taken orally and balms and massage oils to be applied to the skin at particular points of pain and absorbed into the bloodstream. All the products (except the CBD honey) are vegan, and all are free from artificial colouring, preservatives, flavourings or additives.

Best to alleviate stress and anxiety are:

Honey Heaven Full Spectrum CBD Extract 10ml boosted with pure CBD Distillate (10%) in nine strengths starting from 1000mg at 45:

Honey Heavens CBD oils have a herbal taste that gets stronger with a higher percentage of concentration. The oil can be added to smoothies or foods that are not heated to find the taste that best suits you, but if you find yourself struggling to sleep, or are overly stressed, the under-tongue administration is the fastest way to absorb CBD oil.

Simply place 1-2 drops under the tongue twice daily. Keep the oil in the mouth for 1 minute for better absorption and drink water afterwards to help with the taste.

Organic Mushrooms in Honey 300g RRP 22

Available from http://www.honeyheaven.co.uk or in store or online at Selfridges

Made by blending Organic Hungarian Acacia Honey with an incredible seven different medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Chaga, Shitake, Maitake, Lions mane, Cordyceps, Tremella), this unique honey is a perfect topping on toast or stirred into herbal tea, hot chocolate or decaffeinated coffee for a good nights sleep. This is because medicinal mushrooms are adaptogens - herbs, roots and other plant substances (like mushrooms) - that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance after a stressful situation.

Heres how. Cortisol is the hormone our bodies release at times of stress. It can be very helpful for example, alerting us to threats and dangers around us but it can also cause problems if it is released inappropriately. Adaptogens help regulate the release of cortisol and prevent it from doing long-term damage.

However, cortisol is also deeply connected to our circadian rhythm. This is our body clock, which tells us when to sleep and when to feel awake. Usually, we have a main release of cortisol in the morning, which gradually diminishes throughout the day. By nighttime, we should be feeling calm, collected and ready for sleep.

Unfortunately, many things in modern life can throw our circadian rhythms off, including blue light from screens, toxins from our food, other types of artificial light, irregular working schedules, and so on. All of these things, as well as other types of stress, interfere with how cortisol is released over the course of the day.

This is where adaptogens can help. Not only do they potentially help balance cortisol within our bodies they can also help us regain an overall equilibrium. That means that we gradually return to our natural rhythms. In other words, when youre feeling sluggish and unmotivated, adaptogens can help to stimulate you, whereas if youre feeling anxious and alert, they help you to feel calmer and can help you sleep. Cue a spoonful of Mushrooms in Honey!

Organic CBD Honey RRP 25

Although experts dont know exactly why CBD helps with stress, research has suggested that it can help manage pain, anxiety, and insomnia. For anyone who finds the earthy taste of CBD oil hard to swallow, however, Honey Heavens delicious Organic CBD Honey is the answer.

It can be used in the same way as any honey spread on toast, added to drinks, drizzled over porridge, but because the oil lends a delicious nutty flavour to the naturally sweet honey its also ideal in baking or salad dressings.

Organic Black Seed & CBD Honey RRP 30

Another innovative combination from Honey Heaven blends Organic Black Seed Oil and CBD Oil with sweet Acacia honey from Hungary.

This honey shares all the benefits of CBD with the added bonus of Black Seed from the Nigella Sativa plant. Revered for centuries as a natural remedy, Black Seed contains thymoquinone, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that has been used in Islamic and traditional medicine for over 2000 years - indeed in a saying of the Prophet Muhammad in the black seed is a cure for every illness except death (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

More recently research has found that Black Seed significantly alleviates stress and improves sleep quality in human volunteers.

A spoonful of Black Seed & CBD infused honey before bed anyone?

Vegan, organic CBD Gummy Bears from Honey Heaven 25 per pot

Made with natural ingredients and bursting with the juicy fruit flavours of Strawberry, Orange, Pineapple, Lemon, Blackberry and Apple, they offer a delicious mix of sweet and sour; just perfect for those who find the classic earthy taste of CBD a little hard to swallow. In fact, they taste so good they should be renamed Yummy Bears!

These gummy bears are one of the strongest on the UK market with 20mg of CBD in each bear.

Honey Heaven CBD Gummy Bears come in individual recyclable PET jars that are easy to slip in your pocket or bag and contain 25 bears per pot. But although theyre tasty its recommended no more than two gummy CBD bears a day should be taken (200mg CBD per day should not be exceeded).

Get your paws on some now!

Were all a little anxious at the minute, and with good reason. To help ease your stress in a natural way, try one of Honey Heavens premium Organic products. Visit http://www.honeyheaven.co.uk to view the full range.

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Ease away stress with organic CBD products from Honey Heaven - Northumberland Gazette

The crypto world is betting its mainstream moment is here. That bet hinges on the blessing of Wall Streets top cop.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected in the coming days to rule on whether 14 different money managers will be allowed to launch their own spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

These ETFs would allow everyday investors to get exposure to bitcoin (BTC-USD) without having to own it, trading it like they would a stock.

The approvals could also expand widespread acceptance of the worlds biggest cryptocurrency, making bitcoin a potential staple in 401(k)s, IRAs, and pension plans used by everyday people.

The applicants include some of the biggest names on Wall Street, from BlackRock (BLK) to Franklin Templeton (BEN), as well as a number of firms better known in the crypto world.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Goldman Sachs (GS) are among the giant banks that have offered to help some of these money managers create and redeem shares of their new funds.

The challenge before the industry is that the SEC has in the past denied such applications, arguing the products were vulnerable to market manipulation. The regulator is also the industry's most prominent adversary, having filed numerous lawsuits and enforcement actions against key players.

Those in the crypto world say there are signs that the SEC wont stand in the way this time around and will give the green light to all 14 applicants at once.

Such optimism helped bitcoin surge more than 150% in 2023 and start 2024 by rising above $45,000, its highest level in nearly two years.

It is also helping investors move past the memories of 2022, when some of the industrys biggest names were wiped out as the values of digital assets collapsed.

"The bitcoin ETFs will be the official nail in the coffin on that prior crypto winter," Laurence Latimer, CEO and co-founder of crypto firm Dinara, told Yahoo Finance.

A number of applicants including Bitwise, Hashdex, and VanEck have already released teaser video ads ahead of what they expect to be their potential launch.

Story continues

"Bitcoins time has arrived," reads the tagline of the Hashdex spot.

But in a sign of how much is riding on these approvals, bitcoin tumbled nearly 10% earlier this week after one industry analyst floated a contrarian view of what the SEC may do.

Markus Thielen, head of research at crypto investment firm Matrixport, said in a note Tuesday that the SEC will reject all ETF applications this month and the products wont get the green light until at least the second quarter. If that happens, bitcoin prices could fall by 20%, according to the note.

"While we have seen frequent meetings between the ETF applicants and staff from the SEC, which resulted in the applicants refiling their applications," the note added, "we believe all applications fall short of a critical requirement that must be met before the SEC approves."

The note cited general skepticism from SEC chair Gary Gensler, who has led the agencys larger crackdown on the crypto world.

It also came as bitcoin trading volume spiked to highs not seen since the collapse of regional lender Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023.

The crypto industry has been waiting more than a decade for this moment.

The first application to create a spot bitcoin ETF came in 2013 from crypto entrepreneurs and twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, famous for their early role in the creation of Facebook. Since then, the SEC has denied more than 30 similar applications.

A key turnaround moment came last year in June when the worlds biggest money manager, BlackRock, filed for a spot bitcoin ETF. The interest from one of Wall Streets biggest names sparked other asset managers to follow suit.

Another important development came last August when one of the ETF applicants, Grayscale Investments, won a key legal victory over the SEC. Grayscale had sued the SEC in 2022 after it wasn't allowed to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot bitcoin offering.

Its core argument was that the agency had already approved exchange-traded products that held bitcoin futures contracts and thus had "acted arbitrarily and capriciously."

A three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in Washington sided with Grayscale, saying the firm had "advanced substantial evidence" its product was similar to bitcoin futures ETFs previously approved by the SEC.

That forced the SEC to reconsider Grayscales spot bitcoin ETF application, along with others filed by rival money managers.

The SECs first deadline to consider these various ETFs is Jan. 10 for a joint offering from Ark Invest and 21Shares. Other deadlines are as late as April.

ETF issuers and analysts say they believe the SEC will choose to approve all applications that pass muster by the earliest January deadline, so as not to give any first movers an advantage over the rest of the industry.

One of the applicants, Ark Investment Management CEO Cathie Wood, told Yahoo Finance that the dominant providers of spot bitcoin ETFs will be those that take in the most money from investors right out of the gate.

The winners "will be a few and it will be the most liquid," she said.

Historically, launches for other bitcoin products have sent bitcoins price on a wild ride.

It happened in 2017 with the launch of the countrys first bitcoin futures contracts and then in 2021 with the SECs approval of the country's first bitcoin futures ETFs. Prices soared and then fell by large amounts in the year following the launches.

This time around, "there's good pent-up demand so you'll see good flows, Sandy Kaul, Franklin Templeton's head of digital assets, told Yahoo Finance.

"But I think that the transformative flows are really going to come in about six months to a year when people start to see what these ETFs actually offer in terms of the portfolio performance."

What is clear, she added, is that the approval of these products would offer "a real affirmation of the crypto ecosystem being a legitimate investment opportunity."

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance.

The price of bitcoin rose more than 150% in 2023. A prior version of this article incorrectly reported the rise was 164% through January 1.

Click here for the latest crypto news, updates, values, prices, and more related to bitcoin, ethereum, dogecoin, DeFi, and NFTs

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The crypto world is ready to take bitcoin ETFs to the masses. It needs the blessing of a longtime foe first. - Yahoo Finance

Vegan leather is no longer confined to vegan-centric brands: it's everywhere. But what is vegan leather? Whether a pair of black pleather pants or a fiery red synthetic leather clutch, the new, glossy iterations are like leather's cooler younger sibling that went vegan and didn't tell the family until Thanksgiving day. With sustainable fashion becoming ever more mainstream, vegan leather has gone from being a niche alternative to becoming both a sustainable staple and part of the greenwashing wave. Here, we break down the pros and cons of vegan leather and whether it's a fashion phase or an effective way to combat climate change.

Animal leather is usually made from the skin of cows, but can also be derived from the skin of pigs, sheep, snakes, horses, and more. Vegan leather, or faux leather, imitates actual leather by using synthetic materials or plant-based fibers like pineapple leaves, cactus, cork, and apple peels to get a similar consistency. However, the majority of vegan leather is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), both of which are petroleum-based plastics. But as long as the leather isn't derived from any animal products, it can be considered vegan.

If you've decided on a vegan lifestyle or are interested in more eco-friendly options, faux leather offers an alternative to the standard animal hides. Real leather is made through a lengthy process in which the animal skin is heavily salted, soaked in calcium oxide, tanned, and then put through the liquoring method, which includes adding fats and oils to the leather to make it softer and stronger. If you're familiar with real leather, you'll be able to recognize its signature earthy scent due to the tanning process, and its breathable qualities when worn for long periods of time. The most common forms of tanning are chromium and vegetable tanning. Chromium uses chemicals to preserve the animal's skin, and offers more water and heat resistance for the leather products it's applied to. But this form of tanning produces chromium waste, which pollutes the neighboring waterways. Vegetable tanning avoids harmful chemicals and uses natural materials, like tree bark, in their place. But, this form of leather is generally more expensive. When properly cared for, genuine leather can last for multiple decades in either case.

In recent years, vegan leather has gotten incredibly close to feeling like the real deal. The obvious plastic-like dupes have evolved into more buttery and luxurious leather alternatives. Unfortunately, vegan leather products tend to have a lifespan of only two to five years. But, leather-like products offer a more eco-friendly option, especially for those concerned about their carbon footprint. Traditional leather relies on livestock like cattle, and industrial animal-raising contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gases. By cutting out cattle as a source of leather, fake leather seemingly provides a more sustainable and cruelty-free option. But this is where it gets a little tricky.

Vegan leather's lifespan proves to be shorter than that of real leather, which means consumers will have to replace items made with it more often. Additionally, plastic-based vegan leather products cannot biodegrade as well as natural leather. And while both traditional and faux leather-making processes involve chemicals, PVC can release pollutants and toxic chemicals. While PU leather is less harmful than PVC, it's still derived from fossil fuels. But ultimately, natural fibers are the best option when seeking out vegan leather.

The fashion industry has seen a rise in alternative leather options from fish skin to pineapple leaves to cork leather. High-end fashion brands like John Galliano, Prada, and Christian Dior have dabbled in fish skin options for their products; the practice itself has roots dating back centuries to multiple Indigenous groups across the globe. Brands like Nanushka and Hugo Boss, meanwhile, have sought to use leather alternatives that are completely vegan.

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What is Vegan Leather? - Vogue