Hey Rebels! Let's dive into this week's issue to help you become smarter about money, investing and business in less than 10 minutes a week.
Weekly Intel
Stay current with top news from the business, money, and investing world.
Top Stories
⛽ The cost of war: Gas prices across the U.S. have risen after the U.S. attack on Iran disrupted oil markets, with some regions experiencing much sharper increases at the pump than others. See how your state’s gas prices are looking here.
⚽ War, war, blah, blah, blah…what about SOCCER?! With 100 days until the World Cup, many people are worried that the geopolitical climate might be a penalty shot to the goal of a successful championship. Also, apologies to our non-US readers. Soccer is the sport where you kick the ball into the net and pretend to get hurt. (more)
🍺 The youth aren’t drowning their sorrows in a traditional way: Gen Z is drinking significantly less alcohol due to health concerns, changing social habits, and the rise of alternatives like cannabis, forcing bars and alcohol companies to adapt with more non-alcoholic options. (more)
By the numbers
👷🏽♀️ 4.4%: The current unemployment rate, after a bummer of a February jobs report. (more)
👶🏻 50%: How many 18-34 year olds drink alcohol in the US, up from 0% of 18-34 month olds who imbibe. (more)
🚗 80%: The chance that the national average for a tank of gas reaches $4 by the end of the month. Maybe think about postponing that road trip…(more)
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The Financial Rebellion Way
Want Ridiculous Wealth? Stop Being Scared of the One Thing That Creates It
I hate to say it, but this is why your fear of investing is mathematically stupid:
130 years of proof: The market’s survived world wars, depressions, pandemics, and crypto bros. It always bounces back. Always.
10% average returns since 1890: Your scared money sitting in savings? 0.5%. That fear costs you 9.5% every single year.
Down 30% this year? Who cares—you’re not retiring this year. Every crash is just wealth on sale for long-term players.
Big picture: Investing isn’t scary—staying broke is scary. The market isn’t gambling when your timeline is decades. It’s the most predictable wealth-building machine in history.
Markets - stocks and crypto
In under 3 minutes, start investing spare change, saving for retirement, earning more, spending smarter, and more.
Click the image above or this link to earn a special $40 bonus.
Prices for the week ending February 27, 2026:
▲ S&P 500 | 6,796 | +0.54% |
▲ NASDAQ | 22,696 | +1.85% |
▼ GOLD | 5,156 | -0.12% |
▲ JOBY AVIATION (JOBY) | 10.04 | +1.62% |
▲ BETA TECH (BETA) | 21.57 | +14.16% |
▼ BITCOIN (BTC) | 68,596 | -5.80% |
▼ ETHEREUM (ETH) | 2,000 | -6.05% |
Stock and Crypto Moves
Try not to panic: Qatar’s energy minister warned that escalating conflict involving Iran could push oil prices to around $150 per barrel (it's a lot) within weeks if supply routes or production are disrupted. Remember when we made fun of the people who drove with recycled oil, and their cars smelled like French fries? Look who’s laughing now. (more)
The ripple in the oil effect: Large swings in oil prices worry markets because they often signal economic instability and can ripple through inflation, energy costs, and global growth. (more)
The taxi of the future (finalyyyy): shares of air-taxi companies such as Joby, Archer, and Beta rose after the U.S. government included them in a pilot program aimed at accelerating the development and integration of electric flying taxis. (more)
“How DARE you” - Anthropic: The AI company Anthropic has sued the U.S. government, arguing that a federal designation labeling it a supply-chain risk unfairly harms its business and contracts. (more)
Stable Crypto? Despite rising geopolitical tensions and volatility in other markets, bitcoin has remained relatively stable, suggesting investors are holding the asset cautiously rather than selling it rapidly or treating it as a major safe haven. (more)
Real Money Moves
Kasey, 28 - Tampa, Florida
Each week, we feature a reader’s smartest and dumbest money moves. We’re all in this together; let’s learn from each other.
Best Money Move - Investing in precious metals
“My grandparents, growing up, always encouraged me to invest in precious metals like silver. So in high school, I did just that.”
“Silver at that time was going for like $13 to $15 an ounce.”
“Invest in precious metals, real estate, any of those hard tangible assets that aren’t going to depreciate like that car.”
Worst Money Move - The new car
“Easily my dumbest money move I’ve made within the last couple years is buying a brand new car right off the lot.”
“Drove it off the lot and quickly regretted that decision. If you like to trade in your vehicles, buying new is not the move.”
“Lesson learned - you can buy new if you plan on keeping it forever through the entirety of that loan, but otherwise it’s just watching money evaporate.”
The bottom line: Every money move teaches you something — whether it builds your net worth or humbles your ego.
Got a story? Send it in. You might help someone dodge a mistake or make a smarter call.
Side Hustle Differently
Each week, we focus on money-making opportunities for a side hustle that could potentially become a full-time venture. No MLM schemes, no “passive income” lies, just real strategies for stacking cash outside your 9-5.
Kasey Lewis at Suncoast Credit Union
Kasey Lewis is flipping the script at Suncoast Credit Union—turning stuffy bank visits into life-changing conversations for 20-somethings who thought homeownership was a fantasy reserved for trust fund babies.
Kasey's rebel banking blueprint:
Kasey and his team sit down with young people in "non-pressurized environments" to actually answer questions like "What's the difference between interest rate and APR?" without making them feel stupid.
Young people are coming back to branches for big decisions because TikTok can't hold your hand through a mortgage. Kasey's retail team offers whatever makes them comfortable enough to ask for help.
While banks auto-reject anyone who doesn't fit their perfect profile, Kasey does "member-centric underwriting"—looking at the actual human, not just their credit score.
Big picture: Kasey discovered that the younger generation doesn't need another app—they need someone who "has their back" when making the biggest financial decision of their lives.
Check out the Financial Rebellion podcast to learn about how to turn your passion into profit.
Bank Like A Rebel
While big banks profit from your mistakes, credit unions invest in your financial education. Weird how doing the right thing is considered rebellious.
Did you know the myths about credit unions versus banks? Debunked here.
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Interested in becoming a Financial Rebellion Partner? Reach out to [email protected].
We’ll catch you next week. Rebels OUT.
Todd Romer: Founder and Writer
Corinne Clarkson: Writer and Editor
Dallin Merrill: Chief Newsletter Overlord
Disclaimer: The advice provided in Financial Rebellion is not considered to be financial or legal advice of any kind. It is your responsibility to dig deeper on any opinions or recommendations given.