Hagar Investments, LLC

09/02/2026

For many Gen Xers, retirement is starting to feel less like a distant milestone and more like a looming financial reality.

The oldest members of the generation will turn 62 next year, the earliest age to claim Social Security. At the same time, many are approaching retirement with limited savings and fewer pensions than previous generations had.

The median Gen X retirement savings balance is about $107,000, while members of the generation estimate they’ll need roughly $700,000 for retirement. Social Security may also become an increasingly important source of income, with 41% of workers over 55 saying they expect it to be their primary source in retirement.

That gap is prompting some Gen Xers to rethink when they’ll stop working, how much they may need to save, and what retirement could realistically look like.

If retirement is getting closer, this may be a good time to review your savings, expected Social Security benefits, and other sources of retirement income.

Millions of Generation X Americans expect to depend on Social Security as their main — or only — source of retirement income.

08/31/2026

Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond music.

Over the years, she gave millions to causes ranging from disaster relief and medical research to education and children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library alone has distributed more than 330 million books to children across five countries.

After devastating Tennessee wildfires in 2016, her My People Fund provided displaced families with $1,000 a month for six months, no strings attached. She also donated $1 million toward COVID-19 vaccine research and supported schools, scholarships, pediatric care, and communities close to home.

What tied so much of that work together was remarkably simple: trust people, see a need, and respond.

Her example is a meaningful reminder that generosity doesn’t have to follow one formula. It starts with deciding what matters to you and finding a way to make an impact.

Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.

08/31/2026

Stocks rebounded last week as falling bond yields and upbeat AI-related corporate reports rekindled positive market sentiment despite the Fed Chair’s slightly hawkish speech. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.49 percent, while...

08/26/2026

A gas station convenience store may not sound like an obvious place for a weekend destination.

But in Lakeville, Minnesota, The Farmer’s Cellar has turned an empty storefront next to a gas station into an upscale restaurant and hidden speakeasy.

The business, which includes the speakeasy, convenience store, and gas station, brought in almost $5 million in revenue during its first year. The speakeasy alone generated just over $1.7 million from its opening in May 2025 through April.

The concept stands out at a time when restaurant costs remain elevated, and many consumers are treating dining out as more of a special occasion.

For small businesses, the story highlights the value of location, creativity, and customer experience, even in unexpected places.

Tony Donatell turned an empty storefront next to a gas station into a sophisticated speakeasy, The Farmer's Cellar. Inside, it's still the "roaring twenties."

08/24/2026

Stocks declined last week as global investors fretted about oil-supply-induced inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 2.05 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

08/24/2026

The Treasury Department is increasing the size of its government debt buybacks amid ongoing pressures in the longer-term bond market.

The department said it will at least double the maximum size of certain buyback operations, from $2 billion to at least $4 billion, targeting the 10- to 20-year and 20- to 30-year portions of the Treasury market.

Following the announcement, the 10-year Treasury yield fell 6 basis points to 4.647%, while the 30-year bond yield fell 9 basis points to 5.196%. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.

The move is designed to support liquidity in longer-dated Treasury securities, though economists noted that it does not change the broader fiscal backdrop or the government’s ongoing financing needs.

The announcement targets the sensitive longer-duration part of the Treasury market.

08/17/2026

Stocks were mixed over a sleepy summer week, as cooling inflation lifted markets while sluggish retail sales nipped at investor sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 0...

08/17/2026

U.S. credit card debt is approaching a record high.

Americans’ credit card balances reached $1.26 trillion in the second quarter, rising by $21 billion, according to new data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

That puts credit card debt just below the all-time high of $1.28 trillion set late last year.

Strong consumer spending is one factor behind higher balances. Rising prices for essentials like groceries and gas may also be contributing.

Delinquencies remain a concern. The share of credit card balances more than 90 days delinquent rose from 7.6% to 12.8% from mid-2022 through early 2026.

Total U.S. household debt now stands at $18.8 trillion. Auto loan debt also reached a new high of $1.71 trillion.

For households, rising debt is a reminder that everyday expenses, interest rates, minimum payments, and emergency costs can all affect financial flexibility.

Americans' credit card debt reached $1.26 trillion, increasing by $21 billion in the second quarter of this year, according to new data.

08/12/2026

A record number of U.S. adults under 35 are living with their parents, according to a recent Realtor.com study.

In 2025, 25.2 million adults under 35 lived at home, a higher share than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many are working, but wages are not always keeping up with the cost of living. Among adults ages 25 to 34 who live at home, roughly 7 in 10 have jobs.

Housing affordability is a major factor. Higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, rent, student loan payments, car payments, and everyday expenses can make living independently harder to sustain.

For some families, moving back home may be a way to reduce expenses, rebuild savings, or create more breathing room before taking the next step.

The broader takeaway is that financial independence does not always follow a straight timeline. Cost-of-living pressures are reshaping what adulthood, housing, and household decisions look like for many families.

One woman in her mid-30s said her $60,000 annual income wasn't enough to cover all her bills after a breakup, leading her to move back home.

08/11/2026

The U.S. economy grew more slowly in the second quarter, while inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s target.

Gross domestic product increased at a 1.5% annualized rate from April through June, below expectations for 1.8% growth.

The headline number was weaker, but some underlying economic drivers were stronger. Personal spending rose 2.1%, and a key measure of underlying demand increased 3.9%.

At the same time, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge remained elevated. The personal consumption expenditures price index showed annual inflation at 3.7% in June.

Core PCE, which excludes food and energy, rose 3.3% from a year earlier.

Consumers continued spending, but the personal savings rate fell to 2.7%, its lowest level in four years.

For households and businesses, the broader takeaway is that slower growth, persistent inflation, consumer spending, savings, and interest rate policy are all connected parts of the economic picture.

While the GDP number was below expectations, the miss appeared to come from a decline in federal government spending and inventories.