Markus Andrews

The country’s roughly 40 million federal student loan borrowers should brace for change when President Joe Biden exits office toward the end of the month.
Here are some steps borrowers can take now to be prepared for the Trump administration, experts said.

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. 
Alex Wong | Getty Images

The country’s roughly 40 million federal student loan borrowers should brace for changes related to their debt when President Joe Biden exits office toward the end of the month.
President-elect Donald Trump takes a more critical view of student loan forgiveness policies, for example. And the Biden administration’s latest repayment plan for borrowers, the Saving on a Valuable Education plan, or SAVE, may not survive.

“For those worried about SAVE going away, I think it probably will, unfortunately,” Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, a nonprofit, told CNBC shortly after the election.
Here are some steps borrowers can take now to be prepared for the Trump administration, experts said.

Understand your remaining relief options

With Biden’s wide-scale student loan forgiveness plans withdrawn and the SAVE plan facing an uncertain fate, it would behoove borrowers to understand the range of relief options still available to them.
For one, consumer advocates believe the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007, PSLF allows certain not-for-profit and government employees to have their federal student loans canceled after a decade of payments.
“PSLF is written into federal law by a Republican president, and it would take an act of Congress to eliminate it,” Mayotte said in a November interview. “Not even all the Republicans want it gone, so such a law change is extremely unlikely.”

Even if lawmakers did do away with the program, that change would only apply to new student loan borrowers, Mayotte said. Current borrowers would still be able to work toward loan forgiveness under the program.
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Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education recently announced it was reopening two student loan repayment plans while the SAVE plan remains tied up in legal troubles. That leaves borrowers with more affordable choices to tackle their debt.
Those two options are: the Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan and the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan. They’re both income-driven repayment plans, which means they set your monthly bill based on your income and family size, and lead to debt forgiveness after a certain period. The Education Department says those plans will be open for enrollment until July 1, 2027.
Borrowers who are facing deeper financial struggles may still be able to access different deferments and forbearances under the Trump administration.
If you’re out of work, you can request an unemployment deferment with your servicer. If you’re dealing with another financial challenge, meanwhile, you may be eligible for an economic hardship deferment. Those who qualify for a hardship deferment include people receiving certain types of federal or state aid.
Other, lesser-known deferments include the graduate fellowship deferment, the military service and post-active duty deferment, and the cancer treatment deferment.

Make sure your records are up to date

Under the first Trump administration, student loan borrowers experienced a slowdown in relief, consumer advocates say. The Biden administration took several steps to improve existing student loan relief programs.
Given the change in administrations, “it’s essential for a borrower to check their loan status to ensure all details are accurate, and to stay updated on any correspondences regarding their loans,” said Elaine Rubin, director of corporate communications at Edvisors, which helps students navigate college costs and borrowing.
Borrowers who are pursuing loan forgiveness, such as under an income-driven repayment plan or PSLF, should ask their servicer for the latest information on how many qualifying payments they’ve made on their timeline to debt erasure.

Keep records of your loan repayment progress and current balance in case there are any miscommunications when the Trump administration comes in, consumer advocates said. Having a detailed record of your loan payments will help you make the case for any relief to which you’re entitled.
If you run into any problems with your student loan servicer, you can file a complaint with the Education Department’s feedback system at Studentaid.gov/feedback. Issues can also be reported to Federal Student Aid’s ombudsman.

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To avoid overspending during the holidays, people need to plan ahead and create a spending budget, experts said.
There are steps you can take now if you spent too much this season.

Ezra Bailey | Stone | Getty Images

Opening presents during the holidays is of course a lot of fun. But for many, opening those credit card statements will be just the opposite.
Months before the holidays hit, consumers were already bracing for the anticipated costs.

More than half of 2024 holiday shoppers, or 55%, felt stress at the costs associated with the season, according to a survey conducted online in September by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet.
Still, 32% of consumers thought it was important to purchase holiday gifts and experiences to show their love for family and friends, despite the expenses, the survey found.
“The holidays are hyped 24/7 for weeks before the actual days,” said Carrie Rattle, a financial therapist in New York. “This builds a level of almost manic euphoria and gives us permission to ignore a spending plan, achieve instant gratification and worry about the aftershocks later.”
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Those aftershocks are likely being felt right around now.

To that point, 10% of holiday shoppers this year were considering tapping their emergency savings for gifts, according to NerdWallet. Meanwhile, 9% said they’d prioritize their gift purchases over debt payments or other bills. (Some 2,000 adults ages 18 and older were polled.)
To avoid overspending during the holidays, people need to plan ahead and create a spending budget, experts say. There are steps you can take now to avoid a repeat next year.

Plan ahead and ‘bookend your shopping time’

It’s best to start thinking about big purchases, such as for the holidays, “when you are calm and rational,” Rattle said. That will likely be far in advance of when those events take place.
“Before the tide of emotional shopping overtakes you, know what you want to spend,” Rattle said.
This way, you can also take your time deciding what gifts you want to get people and to research the costs.
It can be a good idea to save throughout the year for the holidays, said Kristen Euretig, a certified financial planner and founder of Brooklyn Plans.
“You can simply set aside a monthly amount to a dedicated savings account and reserve it for holiday expenses,” Euretig said.
Starting early will also allow you to take advantage of different sales that pop up throughout the year, Euretig added.

Rattle recommends people make a list of the gifts they want to buy far in advance, and then space out their purchases to avoid breaking your budget.
“Buy once a week,” she said. “Bookend your shopping time by having an obligation before shopping, and right after your targeted completion time.”
“When you control your purchasing time you also control browsing,” Rattle added.
You can also be on the lookout for which of the gifts you bought people were actually put to use, she said.
“Reflecting on this helps you realistically separate what is truly valued by the receiver,” Rattle added.

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ETF Strategist

ETF Street
ETF Strategist

Assets in U.S. exchange-traded funds have topped $10 trillion for the first time in November, according to the latest data from Cerulli Associates.
As 2024 comes to a close, here are some ETF trends that dominated the year, based on the latest data.

Pedestrians walk in front of the New York Stock Exchange, decorated with a giant U.S. flag, in New York City, Nov. 6, 2024.
China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images

Assets in U.S. exchange-traded funds in November topped $10 trillion for the first time, according to the latest data from Cerulli Associates.
ETFs — funds that invest in stocks, bonds or other assets and trade on national stock exchanges — reached $156 billion in flows for November, surpassing previous monthly flow records.

The activity is “on par with elevated activity typically seen toward the end of the year,” Cerulli reported.
Research from Morningstar pointed to a “Trump bump” that helped U.S. funds — including both ETFs and mutual funds — take in $115 billion in November, the highest total since April 2021.
As 2024 comes to a close, these are a few of the ETF trends that dominated the year, based on the latest data.

S&P 500 among 2024 fund winners

Year to date, the S&P 500 index is up almost 24%, as of Monday.
The S&P 500 rally, buoyed by the Magnificent Seven stocks — Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon.com, Nvidia, Meta Platforms and Tesla — helped account for about half of the index’s gains for the year, according to data and analytics company VettaFi.

Four of the top 10 ETFs for 2024 by flows track the S&P 500 index, according to Cerulli.
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund ranks No. 1 for 2024 year-to-date inflows, according to Cerulli, followed by iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust, Invesco QQQ Trust, Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF, SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF, Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund, Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF and Vanguard Growth Index Fund.
Malcolm Ethridge, a certified financial planner and founder and managing partner at Capital Area Planning Group, said he often uses S&P 500 ETFs in client portfolios because they allow for access to company names that would be in any large-cap growth strategy for significantly reduced costs.
While an actively managed fund may charge 50 or 75 basis points, a passive S&P 500 ETF may only charge 10 basis points, he said.
The S&P 500 index, which has had a record run, may be poised to continue to do well as the index rebalances to reflect current market leaders.
“I think this is a case where SPY [SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust] probably outperforms the majority of fund managers in 2025,” Ethridge said.

Alternative ETFs see record growth

Meanwhile, alternative ETFs in November crossed $400 billion in net assets for the first time, according to Cerulli.
Moreover, the year-over-year asset growth rate for alternative ETFs — at 93% — was highest among all asset classes.
Most of the total alternative ETF market share — 80%, or around $325 billion — comprises digital assets, trading-leveraged equity and derivative income ETFs, according to Cerulli.
Financial advisors reported having just a 3.6% allocation to alternatives in 2024, though that is expected to increase, according to Cerulli. Within existing alternatives allocations, 14.4% is done through the use of ETFs, the firm found.

Crypto ETFs are ‘here to stay’

In January, bitcoin ETFs began trading on U.S. exchanges.
Now, spot bitcoin ETFs hold more digital currency than bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto, VettaFi noted. Despite a “more lackluster” rollout for spot ethereum ETFs this year, crypto ETFs are “here to stay,” according to VettaFi.
The top five new ETFs by assets in 2024 are all bitcoin ETFs, according to Cerulli, based on data through November.
They include iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF at No. 1, followed by Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF, ARK 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF, Bitwise Bitcoin ETF, and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF. More

The U.S. Department of Education announced it was reopening two student loan repayment plans, leaving borrowers with more choices for how to tackle their debt.
Here’s what borrowers should know about their repayment options, according to experts.

Hobo_018 | E+ | Getty Images

Why these two plans reopened

The Education Department made the plans available again while its new repayment program, the Saving on a Valuable Education plan, or SAVE, remains tied up in legal battles.
Republican attorneys general in Kansas and Missouri, who led the legal challenges against SAVE, argue that President Joe Biden is essentially trying to find a roundabout way to forgive student debt after the Supreme Court blocked his sweeping debt cancellation plan in June 2023.
The SAVE plan comes with two key provisions that the lawsuits have targeted. It has lower monthly payments than any other federal student loan repayment plan, and it leads to quicker debt erasure for those with small balances.
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While the plan is on hold, the Education Department has put SAVE enrollees in an interest-free forbearance. Having a $0 monthly bill for the time being could be appealing to many borrowers, but there is a downside. To that point, those hoping for loan forgiveness under the income-driven repayment plan’s terms or through Public Service Loan Forgiveness aren’t getting credit for the months that pass. (PSLF offers debt erasure for certain public servants after 10 years of payments.)
Those who enroll in one of the two new repayment plans will get credit, experts say.
“The Department continues to defend in court the authority to cut payments for borrowers with high debts and low incomes through the SAVE Plan,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal in a statement. “In the meantime, we are making more options available to low-income borrowers, teachers, servicemembers, and other public servants so they can make the best choices for their financial situation.”

How to decide the right repayment plan for you

Some borrowers who are in the SAVE program’s interest-free forbearance might want to sit tight, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Not having to make payments might be a relief to those who are experiencing any financial struggles.
However, Kantrowitz said, “the forbearance may end under the Trump administration.”
And again, months in the forbearance will not bring you any closer to debt forgiveness, he added.

Those who do want to credit toward debt cancellation under PSLF or an IDR plan may consider switching to one of the Education Department’s other income-driven repayment plans, such as one of the two recently reopened programs, the Pay as You Earn Plan and the Income-Contingent Repayment Plan.
Borrowers should first check to see if they qualify for PAYE, Kantrowitz suggests.
That’s because it tends to be the most affordable option. For example, your monthly bills can be limited to 10% of your discretionary income and your debt may be wiped out after 20 years. Under the plan, borrowers also make no payments on the first $22,590 of their income as an individual, or $46,800 for a family of four, according to the Education Department’s Dec. 18 press release.
For comparison, the ICR plan can offer $0 payments for single individuals making up to $15,060, or $31,200 for a family of four, the Education Department said. Above these amounts, some borrowers’ bills are set at 20% of their income, it added.
There are several tools available online to help you determine how much your monthly bill would be under different plans.
Meanwhile, the Standard Repayment Plan is a good option for borrowers who are not seeking or eligible for loan forgiveness and/or can afford the monthly payments, experts say. Under that plan, payments are fixed and borrowers typically make payments for up to 10 years. More

Paying off debt is a top financial resolution in the new year, according to a recent survey.
Financial advisors say other moves, including prioritizing mindful spending, can help bring better balance to your financial health in the new year.
Here’s some money moves advisors recommend considering in 2025.

Rgstudio | E+ | Getty Images

When it comes to financial resolutions, paying down debt is at the top of many to-do lists for 2025.
But financial advisors who work with clients every day have their own wish lists for what they think should be top financial priorities for 2025.

Here are some tips covering everything from budgeting to estate planning from experts who are members of the CNBC FA Council.
“Start slow and manageable with any new financial goals,” said Lee Baker, a certified financial planner and founder, owner and president of Claris Financial Advisors in Atlanta. “You’re better off getting some wins under your belt than trying to build Rome in a day only to end up frustrated.”

Make sure your budget aligns with your goals

A new year is a great time to revisit where your money is going.
“A little bit of time spent on understanding your actual spending and then deciding if it lines up with your goals and values is time very well spent,” said CFP Jude Boudreaux, a partner and senior financial planner with The Planning Center in New Orleans.
Ask yourself if your spending aligns with your goals and values and if it should continue, he suggested. Once you sit down and look at the numbers, it can help identify where you might want to make changes.

Bringing awareness to your spending can help ensure that you’re making the most of the money you’re taking in, advisors say.
“Mindful spending that reflects personal values can lead to greater satisfaction and stronger relationships,” said Rianka Dorsainvil, a CFP and founder and senior wealth advisor at YGC Wealth.

Evaluate where you can cut back on spending

While credit card debt has climbed to record highs and consumers still contend with higher prices, it’s a great time to streamline your spending.
The new year is also a good time to review your credit and debit card statements for the year, said Ted Jenkin, a CFP and founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial, a financial advisory and wealth management firm based in Atlanta.
Look for subscriptions, apps and memberships you don’t use and cancel them, he said.
Also be sure to take a look at how much you’re paying for streaming services, and where you might be able to cut back, Jenkin said. Multiple streaming service subscriptions can now add up to more than a cable bill. Families may save by cutting the number of subscriptions or by having multiple family members on one account, he said.
Also be sure to take a look at grocery bills and the tendency to add spontaneous purchases that can add up, Jenkin said.

Create a personal investment policy statement

When the market inevitably has ups and downs, the temptation is to react.
But research shows the market’s worst days are often closely followed by the best days. If you sell during a market drop, you’ll miss the upside.
By creating a personal investment policy statement, you can avoid reacting to what’s happening in the market and instead stay focused on your goals, said CFP Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida.
For example, an investor with a long time horizon before retirement may choose to allocate 80% of their portfolio to equities and the remaining 20% to fixed income. When the market drops or soars, they can choose to rebalance back to that 80% equity allocation rather than give in to the temptation to react to the latest moves, McClanahan said.

Try to negotiate a higher salary

The start of a new year usually provides an opportunity to meet with your supervisor or boss to discuss your achievements and value to your team and company, said Cathy Curtis, a CFP and the founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm.
Before that meeting, research your market value and determine what salary or other compensation you want to ask for with a clear, concise pitch on why, Curtis said.
Also be sure to evaluate whether your work may be more highly rewarded elsewhere, she said.

Make sure your estate plan is up to date

One area of financial planning that people tend to avoid is estate planning, according to Louis Barajas, a CFP, enrolled agent and CEO of International Private Wealth Advisors in Irvine, California.
For anyone who has young children or who owns property, it’s particularly important to make sure you complete your estate plan, Barajas said.
Notably, estate planning does not necessarily have to be expensive, he said. For people who have financial situations that are not complicated, there are good online estate planning resources that help prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney and guardian nominations for minimal costs.
Proper estate planning can help ensure your wishes for where you want your money to go are honored when you die. Importantly, that should also include your digital assets, said CFP Preston Cherry, founder and president of Concurrent Financial Planning in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“These areas require annual reviews to help account for life and money milestones and adjustments in your value system,” Cherry said.
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Set time to meet with family to discuss money

More than half of Americans — 56% — say their parents never discussed money with them, according to a recent Fidelity survey.
To get a family money conversation going, it helps to set a formal time to discuss the topic.
Lazetta Rainey Braxton, a CFP and founder and managing principal of The Real Wealth Coterie, recommends scheduling at least two multigenerational family meetings per year to discuss intergenerational wealth.
Possible topics that could be discussed include financial resolutions, long-term care needs for older generations and the status of estate planning documents.

If married, make your spouse a priority

A successful marriage is often a predictor of personal happiness, said Tim Maurer, a CFP and the chief advisory officer at SignatureFD, with offices in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina.
If you have a spouse, investing more time and money in your marriage will pay off, he said.
Start with open money conversations, where both spouses answer the questions “What’s working?” and “What could work better?” Maurer said.
It also helps to have weekly standing meetings to discuss calendars and budgets, where you can identify any adjustments that need to be made, he said.
Be sure to create a new budget category that is kept sacred for date nights, and strive to schedule that time together weekly, Maurer said.

Identify key financial deadlines — and start early

Whether it’s getting your tax return in before April 15 or a required minimum distribution before Dec. 31, it helps to get started well before the deadline.
“Think about all the things that come up over the course of the year and plan for it early,” said Baker of Claris Financial Advisors in Atlanta.
“Avoid waiting until the last minute,” Baker said. “You and your advisors will benefit.”

Consider gifting money now

For people who are retired or close to retirement and who have the means, it can make sense to give away money to loved ones now rather than wait, said Boudreaux of The Planning Center in New Orleans.
It provides an opportunity to identify the family’s values, and direct money in alignment with that purpose, Boudreaux said. For example, that could include financial help for adult children who are raising grandchildren now, he said.
In 2025, the annual gift tax exclusion will go up to $19,000 per recipient. However, individuals can still make gifts over that amount by filing a gift tax return with the IRS and counting it against their lifetime gift tax exemption, which will be $13.99 million in 2025, Boudreaux said.  
Notably, direct funding for education is not subject to gift tax limitations, he said.

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In Saïd Sayrafiezadeh’s fictional short story, “Minimum Payment Due,” the main character is trapped in credit card debt and desperate for a way out.
But his shame and denial leave him unable to tell even his therapist how much he owes.
More than a third, or 38%, of Americans, have credit card debt, according to Bankrate.

J Studios | Digitalvision | Getty Images

In Saïd Sayrafiezadeh’s fictional short story, “Minimum Payment Due,” the main character is trapped in credit card debt and desperate for a way out.
The fact that the experience is common — more than a third, or 38%, of adults in the U.S. have credit card debt, according to Bankrate — makes it no less scary for the narrator.

Collection agents won’t stop calling him. Meanwhile, he can’t even admit how much he owes to his therapist.
“He waited while I calculated the figure in my head, the various principals, the late fees, the penalties, the surcharges,” Sayrafiezadeh writes. “Then I did what everyone does when they are consumed with denial and shame: I rounded down and lowballed the figure. The lowball was still a lot.”
The narrator turns to self-help books, therapy and even a cult for advice, but he’s in too deep. No matter how much he directs toward the debt each month, it won’t go down.
Sayrafiezadeh is a fiction writer, memoirist and playwright who lives in New York City. CNBC interviewed Sayrafiezadeh this month about his story, which appeared in the New Yorker in November, and his choice to use fiction to explore credit card debt.
Annie Nova: You never tell us exactly how much the narrator owes in credit card debt. I’m curious, what was the point of that omission?

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh: It’s like with Jaws: You don’t want to show the monster too much. I thought it would be better for the reader to have to wonder about it, and to create a figure in their mind, rather than to give them a hard number.
AN: You do say the debt climbs from “four figures to five.” So we know that much. But that could be $10,000, and that could be $99,000.
SS: That’s exactly right.
AN: In the story, you mention that the compound interest is growing daily on his credit card debt. We get the feeling that the character will never be able to get out of this. It’s described in a really scary, vivid way. I wondered if credit card debt was something you’ve dealt with.
SS: I’m actually the opposite of this guy. I don’t even wait for my statement to pay it off. Knowing that I don’t owe anybody anything, there’s a pleasure for me in that.

AN: Did you do research on credit card debt for this story?
SS: No, I did not. I just put myself in the position of someone who was in this situation. I think I must just feel it. Maybe we all feel it, in a way. Even if you’re not in debt, it’s always there, hovering. What if I couldn’t pay my bills? Maybe something about 2008 when we had the Great Recession, and everybody was losing their homes. I don’t know. It just didn’t seem to be a hard stretch to imagine what it would be like to be this character.
AN: In the opening scenes of the story, the narrator gets a call. It turns out to be an old friend, but he’s convinced at first that it’s another call from a collection agent. Is the credit card debt so all-consuming for the narrator that he can’t see anything else?
SS: Yeah, absolutely. Everything he sees, he’s seeing through debt-colored glasses. Everything is his debt.

Nadia_bormotova | Istock | Getty Images

AN: The only person in the story that the narrator confides to about his debt is his therapist. But even to him, he lies, saying he owes less than he really does. Why can’t he tell the truth?
SS: There’s a certain amount of shame that he’s carrying around with it. Maybe there’s also some denial about it, as well. Saying the actual amount to the therapist would make it real, and that’s not something he can really face.
AN: I thought it was a really interesting detail that the narrator is a software engineer at a tech start-up. He’s in debt even though he presumably has a good, well-paying job. Why add these details about him?
SS: I wanted it to be about the algorithms that are operating on him, and on us, in our society. He says something about how the Tony Robbins book pops up in his Instagram feed. There are these algorithms that are targeting us with advertising that we’re susceptible to. But I wanted to also make him someone who is creating those kinds of algorithms, so that he’s a part of this cycle. I wanted to have the irony of him writing code, but also susceptible to the code that he writes.
AN: So how does this character find himself with so much credit card debt? Is it a spending problem?
SS: That’s a great question: Why is he in debt? The only thing he says is that he is susceptible. So that’s all he knows. And that’s not really an answer. But what it means is that he is vulnerable; he’s vulnerable to be preyed upon. The story really doesn’t get to the root causes of why he is operating the way he is. I wanted to have it be more of a mystery. He doesn’t know why he is who he is, why it’s come to all of this, with all of this debt.
AN: Do you think your story will make people feel a little less alone with their own debt?
SS: That would be great. I try to write about certain things that are troubling and that plague a solitary character. But yeah, the story could make someone feel like, Oh yeah, this is not just me. Maybe that’s how the story ends, with readers not feeling as alone. More

Jaque Silva | Nurphoto | Getty Images

This year was a busy one for investors, especially in light of the U.S. presidential election, growing excitement around artificial intelligence and the continued focus on elevated interest rates.
While macro conditions are expected to improve in the new year, there are concerns about a possible U.S.-China trade war and lofty valuations could weigh on the stock market in 2025.

Nonetheless, top analysts continue to focus on stocks that can withstand near-term pressures and offer robust growth potential, backed by solid execution and fundamentals.
Here are three stocks favored by the Street’s top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Salesforce
This week’s first pick is Salesforce (CRM), a customer relationship management platform. Earlier this month, the company issued solid guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and highlighted the role of Agentforce, its suite of autonomous AI agents, in driving its transformation.
On Dec. 17, Salesforce announced the launch of Agentforce 2.0, the latest version of its flagship AI product with enhanced features. Reacting to the launch, Mizuho analyst Gregg Moskowitz reiterated a buy rating on CRM stock with a price target of $425. The analyst called Agentforce 2.0, an “impressive innovation, with a clear step-up in value.”
Moskowitz noted some of the features of the advanced version, including improved workflow integration with Slack, Tableau and MuleSoft offerings, better reasoning and data retrieval competence, and an enhanced library of pre-built skills.

The analyst also highlighted the traction for Agentforce, with the company closing more than 1,000 paid deals, a steep climb up from the 200 plus deals by the end of fiscal Q3. Overall, Moskowitz thinks that Agentforce can be a “game-changing technology,” given its ability to significantly boost productivity for clients while fueling bookings and revenue growth.
Moskowitz continues to see Salesforce as a top pick and believes that it is well positioned to help its extensive clientele in process optimization and revenue management.
Moskowitz ranks No. 212 among more than 9,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 60% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.9%. (See Salesforce Stock Charts on TipRanks)
Booking Holdings
Another Mizuho analyst, James Lee, is bullish on Booking Holdings (BKNG), a provider of online travel and other services. Lee reaffirmed a buy rating on BKNG stock and boosted the price target to $6,000 from $5,400, reflecting higher growth-rate estimates and a favorable outlook.
Lee stated that a regional analysis by Mizuho revealed encouraging room night growth for fiscal 2025. Based on estimated growth rates for Europe, Asia, the U.S. and the rest of the world, Lee expects an 8.2% room night growth (over a percentage point higher than the consensus estimate).
The analyst expects BKNG’s fiscal 2025 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to rise by mid-teens, marking a faster growth rate than the revenue growth estimate of nearly 11%. In fact, considering buybacks, Lee expects fiscal 2025 earnings to increase by about 20%, which makes the stock’s valuation at 16 times FY26 EBITDA attractive at current levels.
Overall, Lee believes that BKNG deserves a premium valuation compared with its rivals based on its “sizable advantage in digital marketing, expanding offerings in alternative accommodations and other new product verticals, and a higher share in hotel bookings.”
Lee ranks No. 291 among more than 9,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 61% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.4%. (See Booking Holdings Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks)
DraftKings
Finally, there’s sports betting company DraftKings (DKNG). The company has mobile sports betting operations in 25 states and Washington, D.C. Its iGaming business is live in five U.S. states. The company’s Sportsbook and iGaming products are also available in Ontario, Canada.
In a research note on the 2025 outlook for the Gaming and Lodging space, JPMorgan analyst Joseph Greff named DraftKings as one of the top picks. The analyst reiterated a buy rating on DKNG stock and increased the price target to $53 from $47.
Greff views DraftKings “as the pure-play in the most attractive growth market in Gaming.” He expects DKNG to gain from tail winds in this space, including solid same-store sales and new growth opportunities.
Highlighting DraftKings’ lucrative revenue growth profile, the analyst talked about the company’s ability to capitalize on its scale and leading position in the U.S. online sports betting and iGaming space to deliver better margins, EBITDA and free cash flow, supported by efforts to control operating expenses.
Greff expects DraftKings to deliver revenue growth of 31% in 2025 and 13% in 2026. The analyst said that Wall Street’s 2026 revenue growth estimate of 17% plus seems very achievable, along with the possibility of a higher margin.
Finally, Greff noted DKNG’s “superior product capabilities, customer acquisition competencies, and scale that have allowed it to compete against new entrants like ESPN BET and Fanatics, much like it has successfully competed in the past with newer entrants.”
Greff ranks No. 987 among more than 9,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 51% of the time, delivering an average return of 7.6%. (See Draftkings Options Activity on TipRanks) More

At KIPP DC College Preparatory School, students study budgeting, savings, accounting, investing and managing risk, among other topics. 
Unlike many other high schools, the personal finance curriculum spans three years with a work-based learning component.
The goal, according to Shavar Jeffries, chief executive officer of the the non-profit KIPP Foundation, is “breaking cycles of poverty.”

Hill Street Studios | Getty Images

Keith Harris, a 17-year-old high school senior at KIPP DC College Preparatory, has studied accounting, investing and budgeting, among other basic lessons, like his English, history and math curriculum.
Harris is enrolled in his high school’s NAF Academy of Business, a rigorous three-year finance program with a work-based learning component. 

Because Harris, who lives with his aunt, received a full scholarship to college next fall, he’s also able to set some of his part-time earnings aside and invest those funds.
“Through the program I developed a lot of skills, such as managing my finances and investing in stocks,” Harris said. “It laid down a good foundation for me.”
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Unlike other one-semester high school personal finance courses across the country, more than 160 students enrolled in the KIPP DC College Preparatory’s NAF Academy of Business program study budgeting, saving, investing and managing risk, as well as other topics, right through graduation. Some receive NAFTrack certification, a credential that demonstrates a high standard of college and career readiness.
Many students also choose to enroll in the First Generation Investors program, where they can complete capstone projects while being tutored by students from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. 

Additionally, internship opportunities pair students with nearby employers, including Ernst & Young, the Navy Federal Credit Union and Verizon.
The program is paid for, in part, through federal and local funding and administered by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

The goal of the program, according to Shavar Jeffries, chief executive officer of the the non-profit KIPP Foundation, is “breaking cycles of poverty.”
KIPP DC College Prep caters to an underserved population of teens, and yet 100% of the senior class are accepted into at least one college, Jeffries noted, which is largely consistent with last year’s numbers.
“Economic security has to be a key part of it,” Jeffries said. “We have too many young people who don’t have the knowledge base to make smart financial decisions. When we can add that value and students bring these lessons home, that is also very powerful.”
Donyae Vaughan, 18, a senior at KIPP DC College Prep, will graduate this spring with a number of financial classes under her belt, including Accounting 1 and 2. She also landed a summer internship at consulting firm Accenture.
“Most people my age don’t get to learn about this stuff,” she said. 
Vaughan, who has plans to attend dental school, said the coursework compliments what she has been taught at home. “My family is big on saving,” she said.
“Last year we learned a lot about investments, savings and stocks and how we can grow our money,” she said. “Every time I learn something new, I would go home and talk about it with my mom.”
Vaughan said she also learned about the merit of locking in a top-yielding certificate of deposit through the program.

A trend toward in-school finance classes

“The three years is a level of robust programming we don’t typically see,” said Raven Newberry, managing director of policy at the National Endowment for Financial Education.
As of 2024, about half of all states require or are in the process of requiring high school students to take at least one financial literacy course before they graduate, according to the latest data from Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit focused on providing financial education to middle and high school students.
Although some schools and school districts have required students receive some financial education even without a state mandate, it is the schools that serve students from lower socio-economic backgrounds that tend to fall short in financial education offerings, according to Newberry.
“When a state requires it, that helps close that gap,” she said.

Financial literacy leads to financial wellbeing

In addition, a 2018 report by the Brookings Institution found that teenage financial literacy is positively correlated with asset accumulation and net worth by age 25.
Among adults, those with greater financial literacy find it easier to make ends meet in a typical month, are more likely to make loan payments in full and on time and less likely to be constrained by debt or be considered financially fragile.
They are also more likely to save and plan for retirement, according to data from the TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index based on research collected annually since 2017.
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