Author: Harper Lane

Almost nine years ago, while pregnant with our eldest, my husband asked if I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I declined. I realized that I wouldn’t thrive without the daily interactions that come from working. My career provides me with a sense of fulfillment that I need. Since then, we have made financial decisions based on the fact that we have two incomes in our household. I earn more than my husband, but we seldom discuss it directly. We simply pool our resources and budget together. When he changed careers—from military service to becoming a diesel mechanic—the income gap…

Starbucks is set to make a change that could impact loyalty program members who bring their own cups. Beginning June 24, the coffee chain will discontinue its 25-star bonus for customers using reusable cups. Currently, Starbucks Rewards members receive this bonus, but going forward, they will earn double stars on their entire order instead. Under the existing system, members earn one star for every dollar spent before tax. A typical drink earning nine stars, for example, would provide a total of 34 stars when the reusable cup bonus is included. With the new policy, that same order would result in…

Former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham has implemented two significant changes to mitigate losses at her fashion brand, Victoria Beckham Holdings Limited. In a recent Bloomberg interview, she stated, “We reduced our price point and merged the two brands we had into one,” aiming to produce high-quality collections without compromising affordability. Beckham emphasized the challenge of creating “considered” pieces using premium fabrics at a reachable luxury price point. When asked about potential impacts from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, she said the company would be “monitoring the situation very closely.” Founded in 2008, Victoria Beckham Holdings Limited is co-owned…

David Sacks, the White House’s artificial intelligence and crypto advisor, suggested that a significant productivity increase from AI and robotics could improve the financial outlook for the United States. During an episode of the “All-In” podcast, Sacks expressed uncertainty about whether the recent turbulence in the bond market, attributed to rising US debt, is merely a fleeting issue or indicative of a more severe, long-term trend. He proposed that technological advancements might provide a solution for policymakers reluctant to tackle the nation’s borrowing issues. “While I’m concerned about the fiscal situation in America, what if the AI and robotics revolution…

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fondness for cheeseburgers has surfaced multiple times during his ongoing sex-trafficking and racketeering trial. In the second week of the Manhattan federal proceedings, one of Combs’ former personal assistants recounted how he craved cheeseburgers from a well-known Los Angeles diner shortly before a near-gunfight involving rival Suge Knight in 2008. Another former assistant revealed Diddy’s quirky preference for his cheeseburgers—he enjoys them with a generous helping of applesauce. When questioned, George Kaplan, the ex-assistant, confirmed Combs’ love for applesauce, mentioning he often has it on the side or on top of various dishes, including cheeseburgers. Unfortunately, this…

Early-career engineers should be cautious about specializing too early, according to Philip Su, a former engineer at Microsoft, Meta, and OpenAI, and founder of the podcast player Superphonic. Su emphasizes the need for self-awareness in making career decisions, especially when it comes to choosing between being a generalist or diving deep into a specific niche. He notes that while some exceptional individuals, like chess prodigies, are born with unique talents that justify early specialization, most people face risks with a narrow focus, particularly in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape. He warns that a chosen specialization could become obsolete. For instance, if…

I reached Mexico’s Happy Coast feeling stressed, anxious, and quite frankly, unhappy. Upon my arrival in Puerto Vallarta, I found myself at the rental car company, utterly bewildered. After an unexpected $300 expense, I embarked on a three-hour drive along a bumpy road to my first resort in Costalegre. As I navigated behind slow mopeds and endured countless speed bumps, I couldn’t shake off the nausea from the winding roads and the scratchy throat from nearby wildfires. Was all this discomfort really worth it? I began to question how a place could earn a name like the Happy Coast when…

Banks are increasingly leveraging AI to enhance efficiency for their analysts and better serve client needs. Bank of America employs “Banker Assist” to compile information, delivering tailored insights for each client. On the other hand, Goldman Sachs has introduced the “GS AI Assistant,” an in-house ChatGPT-like tool designed to assist staff with various tasks. Swiss bank UBS is pushing boundaries further by creating AI avatars of analysts who present their research to clients. The bank began this initiative in January, with 36 analysts, approximately 5% of its workforce, volunteering to participate, covering sectors such as technology, consumer goods, and energy.…

JPMorgan’s CEO Jamie Dimon acknowledged China’s significant progress in improving the living standards of its citizens. In a recent interview with Bloomberg in Shanghai, Dimon stated, “They have done an enormous job over the last 20 years lifting up their people.” While he identifies as an “American patriot capitalist,” he appreciates China’s ability to develop its economy. Dimon pointed out that China has pursued a more comprehensive economic strategy than the U.S. over the last two decades, crafting policies that have positioned it as one of the world’s largest economies. He wrote in his recent annual letter to shareholders that…

Chelsea Atkinson knew that her father’s house might eventually belong to her, though she didn’t expect that day to come so soon. The sudden passing of her father in 2019 at just 58, after complications from earlier lung cancer, left her reeling. Atkinson was 28 and an only child, already settled into a home in Austin where she grew up. While inheriting her childhood home—mortgage-free—could have seemed like a stroke of luck, it soon revealed a host of challenges she wasn’t prepared for. Her relationship with her father had deteriorated in his later years, leaving her reluctant to return to…