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SmartFinancial

SmartFinancial Inc operates as a bank holding company for SmartBank. It offers various banking and financial services to individuals and corporate customers. The principal business of the Bank consists of attracting deposits from the general public and investing those funds, together with funds generated from operations and from principal and interest payments on loans, mainly in commercial loans, commercial and residential real estate loans, consumer loans, and residential and commercial construction loans. The primary source of revenue is interest income from earning assets, namely loans and securities.

SmartFinancial Inc

Benzinga examined the prospects for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.
U.S. markets rebounded this week, fully recovering losses incurred since President Donald Trump's April 2 tariff escalation. The S&amp;P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq each rose by more than 1.3%, with Friday marking the S&amp;P 500's ninth consecutive daily gain — the longest streak since 2004.
The rally was fueled by a stronger-than-expected April jobs report, with 177,000 jobs added, surpassing forecasts of 135,000. Unemployment remained at 4.2%, and sectors like healthcare and transportation led job growth. However, Q1 GDP contracted by 0.3%, the largest drop since 2022, largely due to a surge in imports ahead of tariff implementations.
Corporate earnings contributed to market optimism. Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) exceeded Wall Street estimates, with Microsoft posting its best weekly performance in years. Despite these gains, concerns linger about the long-term economic impact of tariffs, as businesses face uncertainty and potential cost increases.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.
The Bulls
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45136276/mounjaro-maker-eli-lilly-clocks-45-jump-in-q1-revenue-cuts-2025-profit-outlook-but-not-due-to-tariffs">"Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly clocks 45% jump in Q1 revenue, cuts 2025 profit outlook but not due to tariffs"</a>, by Vandana Singh, reports that Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) posted a 45% year-over-year revenue increase to $12.73 billion in Q1 2025, driven by strong sales of Mounjaro and Zepbound, but lowered its 2025 EPS forecast to $20.78-$22.28 due to a $1.57 billion charge related to acquired in-process R&amp;D, clarifying that the guidance does not account for potential future tariff changes.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45137383/microsoft-rallies-after-crushing-q3-earnings-goldman-sachs-lifts-target-to-480">"Microsoft rallies after crushing Q3 earnings, Goldman Sachs lifts target to $480"</a>, by Piero Cingari, reports that Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) beat Q3 estimates with $70.07 billion in revenue and $3.46 EPS, driven by a 35% surge in Azure revenue — 16 points of which came from AI services — prompting Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan to raise the price target to $480.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45038400/plug-power-rallies-as-new-financing-cost-cuts-boost-confidence-in-turnaround-plan">"Plug Power rallies as new financing, cost cuts boost confidence in turnaround plan"</a>, by Anusuya Lahiri, reports that Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLUG#NASDAQ">PLUG</a>) shares rose after the company secured a $525 million debt facility and implemented cost-cutting measures expected to yield over $200 million in annual savings, signaling progress toward profitability.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/45120603/amazon-stock-is-rising-after-the-bell-whats-driving-the-action">Amazon Stock Is Rising After The Bell: What's Driving The Action?</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45120458/bloom-energy-reports-better-than-expected-q1-results-details">Bloom Energy Reports Better-Than-Expected Q1 Results: Details</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/45066479/rare-bullish-signal-just-flashed-on-wall-street-will-it-power-sp-500-to-6000">Rare Bullish Signal Just Flashed On Wall Street: Will It Power S&amp;P 500 To 6,000?</a>
The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45175831/apple-stock-faces-tariff-related-headwinds-4-analysts-break-down-q2-results-whats-next">"Apple stock faces tariff-related headwinds: 4 analysts break down Q2 results, what's next"</a>, by Chris Katje, reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) exceeded Q2 expectations with $95.4 billion in revenue and $1.65 EPS, but analysts from Needham, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America warn that escalating U.S.-China tariffs — projected to cost Apple $900 million in the June quarter — pose ongoing risks to product margins and earnings.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45084597/starbucks-misses-q2-earnings-estimates-ceo-says-optimism-has-turned-into-confidence-i-see-more-opportunity-than-i-imagined">"Starbucks Misses Q2 Earnings Estimates, CEO Says Optimism Has Turned Into Confidence: ‘I See More Opportunity Than I Imagined'"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) posted Q2 revenue of $8.76 billion and adjusted EPS of 41 cents — both below analyst expectations — while CEO Brian Niccol expressed confidence in the company's "Back to Starbucks" turnaround plan, highlighting operational improvements and customer experience enhancements.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/45106948/norwegian-cruise-line-tumbles-after-earnings-miss-still-confident-in-2025-guidance">"Norwegian Cruise Line Tumbles After Earnings Miss, Still Confident In 2025 Guidance"</a>, by Akanksha Bakshi, reports that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) shares fell after the company missed Q1 2025 revenue and earnings estimates, citing a 2.9% revenue decline to $2.13 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.07, but reaffirmed its full-year guidance of $2.05 EPS and $2.72 billion in adjusted EBITDA, despite softening forward bookings amid macroeconomic headwinds.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45152870/bigbear-ai-shares-slide-after-worse-than-expected-q1-report">BigBear.ai Shares Slide After Worse-Than-Expected Q1 Report</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/04/45072193/stock-of-the-day-abbvies-rally-looks-stretched-could-a-reversal-be-next">Stock Of The Day: AbbVie's Rally Looks Stretched — Could A Reversal Be Next?</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45086922/whats-going-on-with-restaurant-chain-owner-brinkers-stock-today">Why Did Chili's Restaurant Parent Brinker International Stock Tumble On Tuesday?</a>
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.
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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Lilly, Microsoft, Starbucks — And Markets Fully Recover Tariff Chaos Losses

A valuation metric, which Berkshire Hathaway chair Warren Buffett once called the "single best measure of where valuations stand," is now signaling that U.S. equities could be trading at relatively attractive levels.
What Happened: Known as the &#8220;Buffett Indicator,&#8221; the ratio compares the total value of publicly traded U.S. companies, tracked by the Wilshire 5000 Index, to the country's gross domestic product.
The measure currently sits at around 180%, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-02/warren-buffett-s-favorite-valuation-indicator-flashes-buy-signal">reported</a> Bloomberg, roughly the same level seen after last year's rapid unwinding of the Japanese yen carry trade, which triggered a sharp selloff. That downturn ultimately set the stage for a strong S&amp;P 500 rally in late 2024.
The indicator soared to record highs last year, echoing past market bubbles, including the dot-com era in 2000. Its recent dip comes as the S&amp;P 500 has rebounded 12% from April lows, though it remains down nearly 9% from February's record.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a>
"This is a crucial indicator because it helps traders know when to deploy capital and buy stocks," said Adam Sarhan, CEO of 50 Park Investments. "There are reasons to still be concerned about the global trade war, but if [Donald] Trump isn't playing hardball with tariffs, people are going to buy, buy, buy with valuations much more reasonably priced now."
Why It's Important: In a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42332905/warren-buffett-labeled-it-playing-with-fire-when-the-indicator-named-after-him-reached-140-cut-to-today-and-its-over-200-is-a-downturn-looming">Fortune article from 2001,</a> Buffett characterized this level as "playing with fire," alluding to the dotcom bubble.
"Nearly two years ago the ratio rose to an unprecedented level," Buffett wrote.
"That should have been a very strong warning signal."
Some critics of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43622036/warren-buffett-indicator-tops-205-amid-skyrocketing-sp-500-valuations-as-this-billionaire-dot-com-crash-predictor-sounds-alarm">Buffett Indicator</a> argue that it overlooks certain important factors like elevated interest rates. Others caution that valuation metrics alone are unreliable for market timing, as assets can remain overvalued or undervalued for extended periods before adjusting, the report said.
Many traders are closely watching Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting on Saturday for any hints that Buffett has begun tapping into the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903272/buffetts-assures-berkshire-hathaway-shareholders-amid-skyrocketing-cash-reserves">firm's record $321 billion cash reserve</a> to scoop up discounted stocks, the report added.
Wall Street continued its rally this week, completely recovering the losses triggered by the Trump administration's April 2 tariff announcement. Mega-cap tech giants — including Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) — all beat Wall Street estimates, with Microsoft posting its strongest weekly performance in years. 
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 1.48% on Friday, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, was up 1.48%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;138z7gr&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MjA5Njc0MjY1My4xNzQwODM2NTUw&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDY0ODA3Mi4yLjAuMTc0NDY0ODA3NS4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NTgyOTMzMy4xLjEuMTc0NTgyOTYyMy4wLjAuMA..">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43901149/buffett-reflects-on-60-years-at-berkshire-helm-cardinal-sin-is-delaying-the-correction-of-mistakes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buffett Reflects on 60 Years at Berkshire Helm: ‘Cardinal Sin Is Delaying the Correction of Mistakes'</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Photo Agency / Shutterstock

Equities

Tech

Media

Warren Buffett's Favorite 'Single Best Measure' For Equities Flashes Buying Signal As US Stocks Rebound

A new study made public last month suggests that left-handed CEOs, including tech giants like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, may possess an edge in driving innovation and outperforming their competitors.
What Happened: Research by accounting professors Long Chen and June Woo Park at the Costello College of Business analyzed &#8220;7 % of S&amp;P 500 firm CEOs.&#8221;
They found that companies led by left-handed CEOs showed significantly higher innovation output, including more patents and citations.&nbsp;
&#8220;Left-handed CEOs are likely to hire more foreign employees, who tend to generate more innovation outputs than domestic employees,&#8221; the study read.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45183052/nvidia-boss-jensen-huangs-total-compensation-hits-50m-after-first-raise-in-10-years">Nvidia Boss Jensen Huang&#8217;s Total Compensation Hits $50M After First Raise In 10 Years</a>
The study, which also looked at how these CEOs approached talent acquisition, found that left-handed leaders were more likely to recruit from a global pool of tech talent.
&#8220;Using patent and citation data from the Bureau van Dijk's Orbis patent database for the period 1992–2015, we find that firms managed by left-handed CEOs tend to exhibit greater success in innovation,&#8221; the study stated.
One key finding was that patents under left-handed leadership were not just more numerous—they were also more original, often representing breakthroughs rather than tweaks to existing technologies.
The research further suggested that firms led by left-handed CEOs enjoyed better financial performance, with higher return on assets and stronger stock returns.
Why It&#8217;s Important: Jobs, Gates, and Zuckerberg belong to the roughly 10% of the population that is left-handed.&nbsp;
Apple co-founder <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41263396/legendary-apple-co-founder-steve-jobs-once-said-being-the-richest-man-in-the-cemetery-doesnt-matter">Jobs passed away from cancer</a> on Oct. 5 at the age of 56. Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985. He made his return to Apple in 1996 and remained in the position until 2011, when he resigned.
Gates, who is the co-founder of Microsoft, currently has a net worth of $168 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/william-h-gates/">Index</a>. He stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000.
Zuckerberg, who is currently heading Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is the third richest person in the world today. He has a net worth of $211 billion.
Read More:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don&#8217;t Have The B&#x2A;&#x2A;ls To Do It,&#8217; Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In&#8217; With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Alexandros Michailidis On Shutterstock.com

General

Are Left-Handed CEOs Like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates And Mark Zuckerberg Wired For Innovation? New Research Says They Lead More Creative, Profitable Companies

According to Bill Eigen, a portfolio manager at JPMorgan Asset Management, markets are significantly reactive to President Donald Trump's social media posts.&nbsp;
What Happened: Speaking to CNBC Friday morning ahead of the April jobs report, Eigen said economic data is quickly taking a back seat.
"We're one Truth Social post away from being up or down 5% every day," Eigen said, describing the current market environment as "fun," but filled with turbulence.
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/go/plus500-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>
Why It's Important: Trump's posts in the last few months back up Eigen's statement, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/05/02/markets-swings-truth-social-posts-jpmorgan-potfolio-manager/">noted</a> Fortune. Markets surged after he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44946516/goldman-sachs-ceo-says-trumps-90-day-tariff-pause-increased-the-level-of-uncertainty-triggered-market-repricing">announced a 90-day tariff grace period</a> to negotiate trade deals.
Conversely, they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44940900/us-futures-dollar-jump-amid-trumps-latest-comments-on-fed-nikkei-rebounds-to-three-week-high">tumbled when he posted</a> that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's removal "couldn't come fast enough."
Before his inauguration, Trump moved currency markets by threatening tariffs on Canada and Mexico, causing the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso to fall.
A February JPMorgan study found Trump is posting fewer market-moving messages than during his first term, but momentum is building. About 10% of his recent posts have led to noticeable market shifts, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, the U.S. labor market <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45164558/us-adds-177000-jobs-in-april-topping-forecasts-as-economy-navigates-tariff-impact">remained resilient in April</a>, with job growth exceeding expectations despite pressure from trade tariffs affecting various sectors.
According to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000, down slightly from March's revised figure of 185,000.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) was up 1.48% on Friday, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, was up 1.48%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;138z7gr&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;MjA5Njc0MjY1My4xNzQwODM2NTUw&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;R1MxLjEuMTc0NDY0ODA3Mi4yLjAuMTc0NDY0ODA3NS4wLjAuMA..&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTc0NTgyOTMzMy4xLjEuMTc0NTgyOTYyMy4wLjAuMA..">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45154011/gold-leaves-sp-500-in-the-dust-with-biggest-outperformance-in-14-years" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gold Leaves S&amp;P 500 In The Dust With Biggest Outperformance In 14 Years</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Donald Trump's Social Media Posts Move Markets More Than Jobs Data, Says JPMorgan Portfolio Manager: 'We're One Truth Social Post Away From Being Up Or Down 5% Every Day'

Ken Griffin, founder of hedge‑fund giant Citadel LLC, told Stanford business students that career growth hinges on surrounding oneself with sharper minds, not basking as "the smartest person in the room."
What Happened: In a "View From the Top" interview posted this week, Griffin recalled college days cold‑calling Bear Stearns traders for tips on convertible bonds and said that habit still guides him.
"If you're the smartest person in the room, you have so screwed up your Stanford MBA," he warned, adding, "You don't want to be the smartest person in the room." Griffin praised Citadel's brain trust, noting a Europe‑based employee who cracked "a tough math problem" overnight after others were stumped.
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Griffin, 56, built Citadel from a Harvard dorm‑room trading venture in 1990 into a multistrategy powerhouse managing about $65 billion in investment capital and employing more than 3,100 people. Forbes <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/ken-griffin/">pegs his net worth</a> at $42.5 billion, making him one of America's richest financiers.
See also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45166556/jeff-bezos-says-the-hardest-thing-was-landing-amazons-first-million-says-he-warned-potential-backers-of-a-70-chance-theyd-lose-their-money"> Jeff Bezos Says The &#8216;Hardest Thing&#8217; Was Landing Amazon&#8217;s First Million, Says He Warned Potential Backers Of A &#8216;70% Chance&#8217; They&#8217;d Lose Their Money</a>
He told students their first job choice should be "a learning environment," stressing that lessons flow from colleagues, clients, even rivals. American business culture, he said, is "generationally kind and generous," and executives have a duty to pass knowledge forward. "It's part of the magic of America that we share insights across generations," Griffin said.
Citadel's own culture of constant learning has paid off: its flagship Wellington fund gained 1.3 percent in April despite volatile markets, reveals a WSJ <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/citadel-sidesteps-aprils-market-swoons-to-post-gains-across-its-funds-6cf7969e">report</a>, lifting year‑to‑date returns back into positive territory. Griffin urged the future MBAs to replicate that edge by seeking rooms where they can keep asking, "Explain this — what do you think about that?"
Why It Matters: Griffin recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44972192/gop-megadonor-ken-griffin-urges-investors-to-tread-water-and-not-drown-amid-nonsensical-trade-policies-we-put-that-brand-at-risk">voiced his apprehensions</a> about the current market conditions, where he indicated that the market is shrinking too rapidly to generate substantial returns, stating, "There are no great opportunities." A notable backer of Trump, Griffin is among several affluent individuals who have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44660599/stanley-druckenmiller-on-x-i-do-not-support-tariffs-exceeding-10-as-trump-digs-heels-on-trade-policy">expressed doubts</a> about the reasoning and execution of the recent tariffs.
Citadel largely avoided market turmoil, with its flagship fund down just 0.9% in Q1, compared to the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s decline of over 4%. Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) gained 1.25% over the past month while SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.31% during the same period.
Image via Shutterstock
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45165487/elon-musks-brother-backs-tesla-ceo-amid-report-of-board-exploring-ceo-replacement-its-getting-boring">Elon Musk&#8217;s Brother Backs Tesla CEO Amid Report Of Board Exploring CEO Replacement: &#8216;It&#8217;s Getting Boring&#8217;</a>

Management

Citadel Kingpin Ken Griffin Warns Being 'Smartest In The Room' Means You've 'Screwed Up' Your MBA

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang received his first base salary increase in 10 years.
What Happened: The Compensation Committee raised Huang's total target pay by $7 million, according to a proxy filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.
His base salary rose 50% to $1.5 million, placing him at the 75th percentile compared to peers, and marked his first raise in a decade.
Huang's target cash bonus remained at 200% of his base salary, bringing it to $3 million, while his target equity award climbed 25% to $27.5 million, slightly above the peer median.
Stock awards rose to $38.8 million, increasing total compensation to $49.9 million.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44897214/nvidia-discusses-ai-powering-future-with-japan-amid-rising-energy-demands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang Meets Japanese PM To Discuss AI&#8217;s Growing Energy Needs</a>
The package also included $3.5 million in residential security, consulting fees, and driver services.
Target equity awards for other top executives were also raised by $3 million to $3.5 million to reflect the growing scope and complexity of their roles, while maintaining pay consistency across leadership.
&#8220;The CC [Compensation Committee] believed this was appropriate in consideration of internal pay equity with the base salaries of other NEOs and as it represented Mr. Huang's first base salary increase in 10 years,&#8221; the filing read.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: In 2024, it was reported that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38842073/nvidias-market-value-nears-2-3t-boosting-ceos-pay-and-employee-salaries">Huang's total compensation</a> in the last fiscal year was $34.2 million, driven by a 60% boost attributed to Nvidia's booming role in the artificial intelligence sector.
That package included a $4 million cash bonus and $2.5 million in perks like security and consulting services.
Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, owns a significant stake in the company and has already made tens of billions of dollars from stock gains.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaire <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Index</a>, Huang currently has a net worth of $100 billion, making him the 17th wealthiest person in the world.
Nvidia currently has a market capitalization of $2.793 trillion. Nvidia shares have fallen 17.21% so far this year but remain up 28.96% over the past 12 months, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> gives the company a robust growth score of 94.78%, reflecting strong performance relative to other leading tech firms.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don't Have The B&#x2A;&#x2A;ls To Do It,' Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In' With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

NVDA

Nvidia Boss Jensen Huang's Total Compensation Hits $50M After First Raise In 10 Years

Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), is no longer waiting in the wings—he's already stepping into the role of chief executive in practice.
What Happened: On Friday, in an interview with CNBC, Sue Decker, lead director of Berkshire Hathaway's board, said Abel has begun actively taking on core leadership responsibilities, particularly in capital allocation.
"In the last year, the board, really Greg and Warren, have moved from sort of preparing for success to actually practicing it," Decker said. "Greg has gotten much more involved in capital allocation decisions, and I know he's earned the trust of the board and Warren in that."
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a>
Decker added that Abel is no longer viewed internally as a "CEO-in-waiting" because he is already taking on the leadership role.
When questioned about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903272/buffetts-assures-berkshire-hathaway-shareholders-amid-skyrocketing-cash-reserves">Berkshire's sizable cash reserves</a>, Decker explained that the company views its cash not as unused funds but as a deliberate strategic asset.
"When you think about what's going on right now in the world, there's really no other company in the world that has a fortress of a balance sheet that also could be used to help stabilize or provide liquidity if some major financial market dislocation happened," she stated.
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Why It's Important: "At 94, it won&#8217;t be long before Greg Abel replaces me as CEO and will be writing the annual letters," Buffett wrote in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903538/buffetts-key-lessons-in-berkshire-annual-letter-really-outstanding-businesses-are-very-seldom-offered-in-their-entirety">annual shareholder letter</a> released in February earlier this year.
Throughout the letter, the Oracle of Omaha hinted it multiple times that Abel is an active participant in the senior decision-making process.
On the first Saturday of May, Berkshire is expected to hold its annual shareholders meeting. It is highly speculated that Buffett may address tariffs for the first time since Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement, <a href="https://fortune.com/article/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-annual-shareholder-meeting-greg-abel-succession/">reported</a> Fortune.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock

Warren Buffett's Right-Hand Man Greg Abel Is Quietly Taking Over Day-To-Day Leadership At Berkshire Hathaway: 'Gotten Much More Involved In Capital Allocation Decisions'

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is reportedly developing redesigned artificial intelligence chips for major Chinese tech firms after warning that tightened U.S. export restrictions on its H20 chip could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44830406/nvidia-to-take-55-billion-hit-over-china-chip-export-restrictions-but-top-analyst-dan-ives-says-hes-not-overly-concerned-all-part-of-the-high-game-of-poker">lead to multibillion-dollar losses</a>.
What Happened: Nvidia has informed key Chinese customers — including Alibaba Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), ByteDance and Tencent Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>) — that it is working on new AI chip designs tailored to comply with U.S. export regulations, reported Reuters, <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/nvidia-working-china-tailored-chips-u-s-export-ban">citing</a> The Information on Friday.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed the new plans with customers during a mid-April trip to Beijing, the report noted, citing three people involved in the conversation. This was shortly after the company disclosed that the export restrictions could result in a $5.5 billion revenue hit.
A prototype of the redesigned chip could be ready as early as June, the report said. Additionally, Nvidia is said to be developing a China-specific version of its Blackwell AI chip.
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Why It's Important: Earlier this week, Brian Colello, equity strategist at Morningstar, voiced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45092827/nvidia-to-face-significant-market-loss-in-china-amid-huaweis-ai-chip-development-says-analyst-its-pretty-much-game-over-for-nvidia-in-china">pessimistic view of Nvidia's</a> business outlook in China but remained optimistic about the company's performance in developed markets.
Colello pointed to rising competition from Huawei as a major challenge, saying, "I think it's pretty much game over for Nvidia in China."
On Thursday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told U.S. lawmakers that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45157365/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-warns-us-lawmakers-that-export-bans-are-backfiring-fueling-huaweis-rise-in-global-ai-chip-race">restrictions on exporting AI chips</a> could be giving China's Huawei Technologies an edge in the global race for AI dominance.
On the same day, Nvidia also took aim at AI startup Anthropic for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45160136/nvidia-blasts-anthropic-for-backing-stricter-chip-bans-on-china-focus-on-innovation-than-tell-tall-tales">advocating stricter U.S. export controls</a> on AI chips to China.
Price Action: On Friday, Nvidia shares climbed 2.59%, ending the day at $114.50, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings awarded Nvidia an impressive growth score of 94.84%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to compare it with other leading tech firms</a> like Alibaba and Tencent.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: epha1st0s/Shutterstock

BABA

TCEHY

Nvidia Reportedly Designing New AI Chips For Alibaba, ByteDance, Tencent After Jensen Huang-Led Company Warned US Export Ban On H20 Could Cost $5.5 Billion

<ul>
<li>President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting funding for NPR and PBS on Thursday</li>
<li>The order cited the outlets' "biased" and "partisan" news coverage as the reason for the decision</li>
<li>NPR and PBS have both issued statements saying they intend to challenge the order</li>
</ul>
Federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcast Service was halted on Thursday, after President Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/ending-taxpayer-subsidization-of-biased-media/">executive order</a> directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt the outlets' funding.
The order said the decision was made because both NPR and PBS publish news that is "biased" and "partisan."
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"Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options," the order read. "Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage… neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens."
A separate <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/05/president-trump-finally-ends-the-madness-of-npr-pbs/">statement</a> put out by the White House said that NPR and PBS are "entities that receive tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.'"&nbsp;
The statement cited several examples of stories the Trump administration considered "trash that passed for ‘news'" or intolerant of "non-leftist viewpoints," including a "Sesame Street" segment that addressed racism during the Black Lives Matter movement and several NPR stories that dismissed the theory that COVID-19 originated in a lab.
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Previously, the public broadcasters have received half a billion dollars each year in public funding through CPB, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/trump-signs-executive-order-to-stop-federal-funding-for-npr-and-pbs.html">CNBC</a>.&nbsp;
Both PBS and NPR responded to the executive order on Friday.
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger issued a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/pbs-statement-on-executive-order-regarding-public-media/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20President's%20blatantly%20unlawful%20Executive%20Order%2C%20issued,serve%20our%20member%20stations%20and%20all%20Americans.%E2%80%9D">statement</a> saying, "The President's blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years.&nbsp; We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans."
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In a lengthier <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/g-s1-64016/npr-statement-on-white-house-executive-order">post</a>, Katherine Maher, NPR's president and CEO, said, "We will vigorously defend our right to provide essential news, information and life-saving services to the American public. We will challenge this Executive Order using all means available."
Patricia Harrison, the president and CEO of CBP, also made a <a href="https://cpb.org/pressroom/Corporation-Public-Broadcasting-Statement-Regarding-Executive-Order-Public-Media">statement</a> on Friday that shared similar sentiments with NPR and PBS. "CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President's authority. Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government," it read. "In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors."
The executive order can be challenged in court.
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Personal Finance

Trump Calls NPR And PBS 'Biased And Partisan,' Signs Executive Order To Stop Funding

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44209579/unprecedented-slide-tesla-sales-plummet-45-in-europe-as-musks-net-worth-dives-5-2b-in-a-week">Elon Musk's</a> artificial intelligence startup, xAI is under scrutiny in Memphis, Tennessee.The company is accused of operating dozens of unpermitted gas turbines at a major data center. The situation has raised concerns over public health and potential violations of federal and local environmental laws.
The allegations were outlined in an <a href="https://southernenvironment.sharefile.com/share/view/b1dd4073b14940e2/foa5f606-cfa3-493f-9496-ec0eb02ddb2a">April 9 letter</a> from the Southern Environmental Law Center to the Shelby County Health Department. Memphis is in Shelby County.&nbsp;
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SELC claims xAI is using a former Electrolux manufacturing site for its AI operations. It says the company installed and is operating 35 natural gas turbines—more than double the 15 turbines listed in its initial permit application.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Residents Alarmed by Scale of Unpermitted Emissions</h2>
The SELC said emissions data provided by the turbines' manufacturer show the facility is releasing between 1,200 and 2,100 tons of nitrogen oxides, annually.&nbsp;
These pollutants are known contributors to respiratory illnesses and smog. If confirmed, the site would be the largest industrial emitter of nitrogen oxides in Memphis, the SELC said. "We're profoundly overburdened with industrial pollution," the SELC added, highlighting concerns about the cumulative strain on the health of local residents.
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The turbines, which power xAI's high-capacity computing operation involving 100,000 Nvidia&nbsp; (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) H100 chips, have a combined output of approximately 422 megawatts—comparable to a full-scale <a href="https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/natural-gas/brownsville-combustion-turbine-plant#:~:text=Brownsville%20Combustion%20Turbine%20Plant%20sits,constructed%20in%201999%20by%20Enron.">Tennessee Valley Authority's Brownsville</a> gas power plant.&nbsp;
The group said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44725803/musks-xai-aims-for-1-million-gpus-in-memphis-but-can-the-citys-grid-handle-a-27b-ai-power-surge">xAI </a>has not disclosed when it intends to decommission the turbines and transition to permanent power from Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
The Memphis data center, referred to internally as "Colossus," began ramping up in 2024 after Musk founded xAI the previous year.&nbsp;
According to SELC, xAI may have violated the Clean Air Act and Shelby County's pre-construction permitting regulations, which require approval before building large-scale pollution sources.&nbsp;
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Amanda Garcia, an attorney for SELC, said in an email to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/10/elon-musks-xai-accused-polluting-air-in-memphis-selc-says-in-letter.html">CNBC</a> that the county has full authority to enforce these regulations and hold the company accountable.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners held a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikIsU34DsUs&amp;ab_channel=ShelbyCountyBoardofCommissioners">public hearing </a>on April 9 where residents raised concerns about the health impact of air pollution from the turbines. Community members, including KeShaun Pearson, director of Memphis Community Against Pollution, claimed longstanding issues with respiratory illnesses in Southwest Memphis.
Easter May Knox, who said she lives near the facility, described chronic breathing issues in her family. "When I open up that window, I smell everything but the right thing—and the right thing is the clean air," she said at the hearing.
Local officials and environmental groups also criticized the absence of Brent Mayo, a senior manager at xAI responsible for infrastructure development, after residents said they had invited him to attend the hearing.&nbsp;
SELC is urging the county's health department to issue an emergency stop order and impose daily penalties of $25,000 per violation until xAI complies with the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview">Clean Air Act</a> and air permitting regulations.&nbsp;
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'We're Profoundly Overburdened With Industrial Pollution,' Environmental Group SELC Says As Elon Musk's xAI Is Accused Of Breaking Clean Air Laws

At 58 years old, a <a href="https://youtu.be/kRWv8SlZpQg?si=PJaQYVjcMoLT05lD">caller to "The Ramsey Show"</a> said he's just plain tired. "I'm getting tired of working," he told Dave Ramsey, admitting he has "really nothing saved" for retirement. Despite pulling in $75,000 a year as a trim carpenter, his savings account has barely moved.
When asked why he hadn't put anything aside, he pointed straight to his past. "I was married to a spender, and at the age of 50, got divorced and walked away with zero dollars," he said.
Eight years later, he's still playing financial catch-up — and carrying debt that made Ramsey raise an eyebrow. The caller has $25,000 left on his mortgage and $20,000 on a motorcycle loan. "You almost owe as much on your motorcycle as you do on your house," Ramsey said. "That's weird."
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<li>Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a></li>
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It was co-host Jade Warshaw who first said the motorcycle needed to go, but Ramsey didn't hesitate to back it up. "It's gone," he said, adding that the bike could become "somebody else's great bike now."
Ramsey also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43117114/it-wont-be-enough-financial-experts-warn-gen-x-about-key-retirement-pitfalls">addressed the caller's exhaustion head-on</a>. While the caller said he didn't feel stuck anymore after getting out of his marriage and paying down debt, Ramsey pointed out that the real issue might be a lack of progress toward a clear finish line. "Part of what's making you tired is you feel stuck," Ramsey said. "If my work is going toward a goal that I'm excited about, I'm not as tired. That's all I'm saying."
Still, Ramsey didn't see the situation as hopeless. Far from it. He mapped out a plan: if the caller buckled down, sold the motorcycle, slashed expenses, and stacked $2,000 a month into savings, he could build a serious retirement cushion.
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"If you saved $2,000 a month for 10 years, you'd have $240,000 plus growth. It'd be a half-million," Ramsey said. "You'd be 67 years old with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset">half-million dollars and a paid-for house</a>."
It turned out the caller wasn't starting from scratch: he already had $23,000 in cash, a paid-off truck, and a house worth more than he owed. Ramsey advised him to cancel a $100-per-month term life insurance policy and throw every extra dollar into retirement savings.
The bottom line, Ramsey said, wasn't about feelings — it was about math. "You can't art your way out of this one, you have to science your way out," he told him.
Work more now, stack cash, and by retirement, the Harley wouldn't be the only thing in the rearview mirror.
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58-Year-Old With No Retirement Says His Ex Left Him Broke And He's Sick of Working — Dave Ramsey Says He Can Build a $500K Nest Egg in 10 Years

Saving for retirement can feel like a game of catch-up — and for a lot of Americans, no matter how responsible they've been, it can seem like the finish line keeps moving. Even living debt-free doesn't guarantee you'll wake up at 65 with a pile of cash.
That was exactly the situation for a <a href="https://youtu.be/-6jHkGtFdmU?si=WH8RYcOrgaDulv8S">66-year-old pastor from Kansas City</a> who called "The Ramsey Show" looking for advice.
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</ul>
"My wife and I pastor a small church," he explained. "It's not a career choice — it's a calling." After decades of modest pay, sometimes even skipping paychecks, he and his wife now bring in around $75,000 a year, helped along by Social Security. They're debt-free except for their home — but their retirement savings sit at just around $35,000.
The couple owes about $85,000 on a home now worth roughly $600,000. On paper, it sounds solid. But as the pastor pointed out, paper wealth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44969001/65-year-old-with-110k-saved-asks-if-he-can-retire-in-7-years-dave-ramsey-says-you-have-no-money-and-tells-him-to-stop-401k-contributions">doesn't necessarily pay the bills in retirement</a>.
Ramsey gave him a clear, practical plan:
"You've got two goals in five years — get the house paid off and put $100,000 into mutual funds."
He mapped it out: by throwing an extra $1,800 a month toward their mortgage, they could eliminate the remaining debt in about two and a half years. After that, if they redirected that $1,800 a month into mutual funds, they'd stack up around $100,000 over the next five years. Combined with the $35,000 they already have — plus typical investment growth — Ramsey estimated they'd be "approaching $200,000" by the time the pastor turns 71.
"And between that and your paid-off $600,000 house, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42026823/this-is-how-you-get-wealthy-dave-ramsey-details-how-one-move-could-make-you-5-million-by-retirement">you're almost a millionaire</a> at that point," Ramsey said.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
The pastor paused, then admitted, "I never thought about it like that."
Of course, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42223593/70-of-millionaires-dont-think-theyre-rich-even-though-people-are-wealthier-than-ever-they-dont-feel-it">whether or not someone feels like a millionaire</a> depends on whether they're willing to cash in the house. Ramsey didn't hammer that point home directly, but it's worth noting: while a paid-off home is incredible security, you can't exactly peel a shingle off the roof and buy groceries.&nbsp;
Selling the house would turn the wealth on paper into something they could actually use — and that's a move Ramsey often suggests for callers in tight spots. Downsizing has practically become one of his signature punchlines, right up there with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44752907/dave-ramsey-says-if-you-want-to-know-what-driving-a-new-car-really-costs-open-your-car-window-once-a-week-and-toss-out-a-100-bill">telling people to sell the car</a> or start living like no one else.
"At least we know you could always sell the house and move to a $400,000 house," Ramsey said, framing it as a solid fallback plan, not a must-do.
Although the next five years would take discipline and hustle, the couple isn't doomed. By staying aggressive with debt payoff, investing steadily, and staying flexible about their housing situation, they still have a real shot at a secure retirement — with a lot more peace and a lot less "wolf" at the door.
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