Wealth Management News & Insights – May 18, 2025

Wealth Management News & Insights

He Revolutionized Travel – Can Airbnb’s Founder Redesign Your Entire Life, Dick’s Sporting Goods to Buy Foot Locker for $2.4 Billion, Apps You’ll Want to Take on Vacation

 

 

 

Primary Sources

  • Federal Reserve Issues FOMC Statement: Although swings in net exports have affected the data, recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. [FRB]

 

Financial Markets

  • Berkshire Sells Financial Stocks, Doubles Constellation Stake, Holds Steady on Apple: Warren Buffett’s conglomerate was a net seller of stocks in the first quarter. [WSJ]
  • For Luxury Brands, There Are No Replacements as China and the U.S. Falter: Sales of designer merchandise thrive under specific conditions that are still lacking in markets like India. [WSJ]
  • One Year From Software Fiasco, Sonos Can Still Carry a Tune: Premium speaker maker’s stock jumps as home theater market and entry-level price cut boost sales. [WSJ]

 

Financial Planning

  • Want a Gift for Opening a 529 College Savings Account?: Some state plans give cash incentives in May to spur contributions. [NYT]

 

Business Strategy

  • He Revolutionized Travel. Can Airbnb’s Founder Redesign Your Entire Life?: Brian Chesky is hoping to take the company to new heights with a major rebrand. ‘Basically,’ he says, ‘it’s the Airbnb of anything.’ [WSJ]
  • Which Podcasts Rule YouTube? A New List Comes With Surprises: YouTube, now the most popular platform for consuming podcasts, is introducing a chart ranking shows by watch time. [NYT]
  • Ozempic Drugmaker’s CEO Pushed Out Amid Weight-Loss Market Challenges: The company’s stock price has suffered a sharp decline over the past 12 months. [WSJ]
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods to Buy Foot Locker for $2.4 Billion: Dick’s is set to pay $24 a share in cash for the sneaker retailer. [WSJ]
  • Away, an Original Internet Darling, Will Sell Its Luggage in More Places: Co-founder Jen Rubio has stepped down as CEO as the company expands its points of sale to Amazon and Nordstrom. [WSJ]
  • Max, Once Known as HBO Max, Is Calling Itself HBO Max Again. Got It?: Warner Bros. Discovery executives are reinstating the name HBO Max for the popular streaming service. It’s the fourth name change for the app in the last decade. [NYT]

 

 

The graphic above shows monthly prices for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN sold individually and as a bundle. Purchasing all three services as a bundle costs $35.99 per month, offering a discount compared to buying them separately.

 

Life & Work

  • How Much Does It Cost to See Beyoncé? It Depends: Some fans who paid top dollar for the star’s Cowboy Carter Tour are feeling miffed as prices drop. Other procrastinators are reaping the benefits. [NYT]
  • The Best Books of the Year (So Far): The nonfiction and novels we can’t stop thinking about. [NYT]
  • How Much Are We Paying for Newsletters? $50, $100 … How About $3,000 a Year: More people are spending money on newsletters from their favorite writers. They’re also having trouble keeping track of how many they subscribe to. [NYT]
  • Boy Accidentally Orders 70,000 Lollipops on Amazon. Panic Ensues: Holly LaFavers said she was eventually refunded $4,200 for her 8-year-old son’s order of Dum-Dums candy. [NYT]
  • Apps You’ll Want to Take on Vacation – A Digital Packing List: Your bags may be ready to go, but do you really have everything you need? Here are some apps that can make your travels smoother, safer and more fun. [NYT]
  • Is Disney World on the Cheap Still Any Fun?: Our reporter put a perkless ticket to the test; ‘my biggest miscalculation of the day’. [WSJ]
  • Newark’s Air Traffic Control Staffing Crisis Is Dire. It’s Also Not Unique: Ninety-nine percent of the air traffic control facilities in the United States are operating below recommended staffing levels, a New York Times analysis has found. [NYT]