Welcome to the last First Friday episode of the year. Today, we’ll dive into an unprecedented moment in the U.S. economy: a missing jobs report, a divided Federal Reserve, a sluggish labor market, and a holiday shopping season shaped by AI, bargain hunters, and low consumer confidence. In this episode, we cover: Missing Jobs Report…
Hey everyone. Sooo … the Fed cut interest rates on Sept. 17. You’re probably thinking: “Wow, Paula. That news is three weeks old. You’re finally writing about it now?” Yep. Yep. “What are you going to tell us next? Hey everyone — We landed on the moon! Pearl Harbor attacked! Dewey defeats Truman!” Fair point….
![[Bonus Episode] Rob Berger on Inflation, Rate Cuts & Smarter Retirement Moves](https://affordanything.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/unnamed-768x768.jpg)
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates. Inflation data is sending mixed signals. Social Security faces insolvency warnings. And the stock market looks both unstoppable and precarious. What should investors and everyday savers do in this moment of uncertainty? In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Rob Berger — former attorney, Forbes…