June 11, 2025

Welcome Back,

Happy Wednesday, everyone! 🧃
Good morning! We’re halfway through the week—time to celebrate the small wins (like showing up, wearing real pants, or remembering your passwords).

Here’s something to chew on over your morning coffee: What if your earning power mattered more than your bank balance?

While most people obsess over net worth like it’s the ultimate scoreboard, today we’re flipping the script. We’re talking about earning power—your ability to generate income now and in the future. It’s the underrated metric that can quietly shape your wealth trajectory far more than savings alone. 📈💪

So let’s dig in—and start thinking of ourselves not just as savers or spenders, but as engines of value.

“Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”
— Warren Buffett

Success is rarely about who moves fastest — it’s about who keeps moving the longest.
In business and investing, consistency > intensity.

— Ryan Rincon, CEO and Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

Market Update

Market Update: Markets posted another day of gains with the Nasdaq up 0.63% and the S&P 500 and Dow Jones following suit. Tech stocks saw strong momentum—Nike jumped 3.17%, PayPal rose 1.65%, and Nvidia added 0.93%. On the flip side, Bitcoin dipped 0.48%, while gold and silver both saw slight declines. Despite mixed results in commodities and crypto, the broader market showed continued strength, driven by optimism in consumer and tech sectors.

Economy

Australian Business Activity Flat in May as Consumers Remain Cautious

Rate Cuts Fail to Spark Spending, Retail Sector Feels the Pinch

In a disappointing turn for policymakers, Australia's business activity showed no growth in May, despite recent interest rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). The flat performance, especially in the retail sector, underscores the continued reluctance of consumers to increase spending amid economic uncertainty.

Key Takeaways:

• Retail Struggles Most: Consumer-facing businesses are experiencing weaker foot traffic and sales, even as borrowing costs decline.

• Monetary Policy Falling Short: Traditional rate-cut stimulus is not translating into higher demand, suggesting consumer sentiment remains subdued.

• Currency Watch: The Australian dollar (AUD) may come under pressure, which could raise import prices while boosting export competitiveness.

Broader Implications:

• Corporate Strategy Shifts: Domestic businesses may pause expansion and review hiring plans, while global retailers with APAC exposure should reassess their Australian footprint.

• Policy Outlook: The RBA is likely to hold off on further cuts until there’s clear evidence of a spending rebound.

Business

Glean Raises $150 Million Series F, Reaches $7.2 Billion Valuation

Enterprise AI and Knowledge Search Continue to Attract Capital

AI-powered enterprise search startup Glean has raised $150 million in Series F funding, lifting its valuation to $7.2 billion. The latest round reflects strong investor belief in AI tools that improve knowledge management and internal search within organizations.

Highlights:

• Valuation Surge: Glean's valuation has jumped 1.6x in just nine months, signaling rapid growth and investor confidence.

• Market Demand: Enterprises are increasingly turning to AI-driven search and workflow automation to navigate sprawling information ecosystems.

Strategic Implications:

• Enterprise Benchmarking: Corporates deploying or developing internal AI systems can look to Glean as a model for scaling intelligent infrastructure.

• Investor Watch: PE and VC firms eyeing the enterprise AI space—particularly in heavily regulated industries—will want to track Glean’s sector-specific adoption and monetization strategy.

Investing

IonQ Acquires Oxford Ionics for $1.08 Billion, Boosting Quantum Edge

Major Deal Reflects Growing Investment in Quantum Consolidation

U.S.-based quantum computing company IonQ has completed a $1.08 billion acquisition of Oxford Ionics, a UK firm specializing in advanced qubit design and hardware IP. The deal strengthens IonQ’s hardware and R&D capabilities, positioning it as a frontrunner in the global quantum computing race.

What This Means:

• Enhanced IP Portfolio: Oxford Ionics brings cutting-edge developments in trapped-ion technology, a crucial aspect of scalable quantum systems.

• Industry Consolidation: This marks another major step toward M&A activity in the quantum sector, as well-capitalized firms look to build vertically integrated platforms.

Investor Takeaways:

• M&A Acceleration: Expect more deals in the quantum space as players race to lock in key talent, patents, and cross-border tech assets.

• Public-Private Linkages: The acquisition could serve as a launchpad for U.S.–UK tech alliances, especially in defense and research collaboration.

Government

ECB Expected to Extend Pause on Rate Cuts Amid Weak Stimulus Response

Inflation Under Control, but Lending and Growth Still Sluggish

European Central Bank (ECB) board member and Austrian governor Robert Holzmann has signaled that the ECB is likely to hold interest rates steady for longer, unless economic data shows substantial deterioration. The comment reflects concerns that recent cuts haven’t meaningfully spurred lending or demand.

Policy Context:

• Muted Response to Stimulus: Recent rate cuts have not led to a surge in credit activity, particularly in the private sector.

• Cautious Central Banking: ECB officials are wary of loosening too quickly and potentially re-igniting inflation.

Implications for Investors:

• Bond Market Effects: Prolonged rate stability could place pressure on European bond prices, especially in the sovereign debt and high-yield space.

• Corporate Caution: Companies dependent on affordable financing may delay projects or reduce capital spending.

Entertainment

Disney Finalizes $439M Deal for Full Ownership of Hulu

Streaming Strategy Consolidates as Media Giant Gains Complete Control

The Walt Disney Company has acquired the remaining stake in Hulu from Comcast for $439 million, cementing full ownership of the platform. The move allows Disney to streamline operations and expand content bundling across its growing media ecosystem.

Strategic Significance:

• Full Ecosystem Control: Disney can now integrate Hulu more tightly with Disney+ and ESPN+, enabling customized packages and shared ad infrastructure.

• Simplified Valuation: With one owner, Hulu becomes easier to spin off, bundle, or potentially partner with other platforms in future M&A.

Investor Perspective:

• This move reshapes valuation norms for mid-tier streaming services and signals continued consolidation in the streaming landscape.

• Competitors like Netflix and Paramount+ will closely monitor how Disney leverages Hulu for ad growth and content segmentation.

PRESENTED BY FIN MC

Trade Smarter With Stock Hotsheets

 Want to know when to consider trading stocks like Apple and Walmart? These Stock Hotsheets use 10 years of historical data to uncover key dates and trends—helping you trade with confidence

Get your FREE copy now (Just Pay Shipping)! →

Today’s Snapshot

Earning Power > Net Worth: The Wealth Metric Most People Ignore

Wealth isn’t just about how much money you’ve saved or invested.
It’s about how much money you can create on demand.

That’s what makes earning power the most important — and underrated — financial metric you can track.

Net worth is a snapshot. Earning power is a superpower.

This article breaks down why your earning power matters more than your salary or your portfolio — and how to increase it regardless of your background, current income, or goals.

🧠 What Is Earning Power?

Earning power is your ability to generate income — through your skills, assets, network, and leverage.

It answers the question:

“If everything reset tomorrow, how fast could you generate meaningful cash flow again?”

It’s not about where you are now — it’s about what you’re capable of.

Your job might disappear. Your investments might dip. But if your earning power is high, you’re never stuck.

💸 Why Earning Power Matters More Than Net Worth

Here’s the truth:

• You can have $1 million saved… and still be anxious about money.

• Or you can have $10,000… and know you can generate $20K/month if needed.

Earning power gives you:

• Freedom of movement

• Confidence in chaos

• Speed when opportunity shows up

• Resilience in downturns

It’s the difference between wealth that’s fragile… and wealth that’s flexible.

📈 The Four Levers of Earning Power

Let’s break down the four key areas that drive earning power — and how to improve each one.

1. Skills (What You Can Do)

The more rare, relevant, and revenue-driving your skills are, the more you earn.

High-leverage skills include:

• Sales

• Copywriting

• Offer creation

• Data analysis

• Investing

• AI prompting + automation

• Leadership + management

🧠 How to level up:
Pick one high-value skill and invest 30 minutes a day learning + applying it. Get feedback, ship something, charge for it.

2. Distribution (Who Knows You Exist)

You can be brilliant — but if no one knows what you do, you’re invisible.

Increase your distribution by:

• Posting on LinkedIn, X, or YouTube

• Starting a niche newsletter or blog

• Going on podcasts or panels

• Building a proof-of-work portfolio

🧠 Remember: Visibility = opportunity.
If 1,000 people see you, you might get one client. If 100,000 see you, you might get 100.

3. Offer Quality (What You Sell)

You’re not paid based on effort — you’re paid based on the value of your offer.

Whether you sell a product, a service, or your time, your offer needs to solve a specific problem for a specific group of people.

Ask:

• Is it clear?

• Is it urgent?

• Is it high-value?

• Is it priced with confidence?

🧠 Quick win: Rewrite your offer around outcomes, not features.

4. Leverage (How You Deliver It)

You only have so many hours in the day. To grow your earning power, you need leverage.

Forms of leverage:

• Code/tools → Build once, sell many (courses, software, templates)

• Capital → Use money to buy time or scale operations

• People → Hire help, delegate low-value tasks

• Media → Create once, get discovered daily (e.g., evergreen YouTube, SEO, newsletters)

🧠 Question to ask:
“How can I deliver more value without using more of my time?”

💼 How This Applies to Your Audience Segments

👔 Corporate Execs & Professionals

• Build a personal brand within your industry

• Use your expertise to consult on the side

• Package your process into a product or workshop

🧑‍💻 Business Owners

• Productize a service into a repeatable offer

• Build systems that remove you from daily delivery

• License or franchise part of your model

📊 Investors

• Develop deal flow through content and reputation

• Build an investor brand that attracts founders and LPs

• Use your capital and insight to partner with builders

🧍 Beginners

• Pick a monetizable skill (writing, design, sales, editing, automation)

• Build something small — a service, product, or audience

• Get one client → document the result → repeat

✅ Your 7-Day Earning Power Boost Plan

Small shifts → big wins. Try this:

• Identify one high-leverage skill to focus on

• Create or refine your offer in 1 paragraph

• Publish 1 piece of content about what you do

• Reach out to 5 people who could use your help

• Set a 30-day target (revenue, clients, visibility)

You don’t need years. You need focus + action.

🧠 Final Thought: Make Earning Power Your Core Asset

Markets shift. Jobs get cut. Algorithms change.

But your earning power?

That’s the one asset no one can take from you.

Build it. Track it. Multiply it.

Because when you can generate income on demand, you control the game.

PRESENTED BY PACASO

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

The wealthiest companies tend to target the biggest markets. For example, NVIDIA skyrocketed nearly 200% higher in the last year with the $214B AI market’s tailwind. That’s why investors like SoftBank are so excited about Pacaso.

Created by the team that grew Zillow to a $16B valuation, Pacaso’s digital marketplace offers easy purchase, ownership, and enjoyment of luxury vacation homes. And their target market is worth a whopping $1.3T. No wonder Pacaso has earned over $100M in gross profits. Now, they’re taking their biggest step yet – with a focus on international markets.

Their first two Paris properties sold out in record time, so they just added another. They already have seven homes in Cabo, and they just bought their most expensive European property yet in London. And this expansion is truly just beginning.

Invest today →

This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com.

Fun Stuff

🧩 Riddle

I show up in spreadsheets, I shape quarterly calls.
I’m loved by shareholders, feared by CEOs.
When I go down, so does confidence.
What am I?

🏢 Guess the Company

Clue:
This company started as a PC manufacturer but now makes sleek devices, operates one of the most valuable app stores, and pioneered the Surface line of products.

🌀 Wild & Wacky

In 2017, a single avocado toast sold in Melbourne went viral for $22 AUD.
This sparked debates about millennial spending habits, housing affordability, and even led to coining the phrase: “The avocado toast index.”
Yes — toast became a macroeconomic metaphor.

🧠