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<ul class="summary-list"><li>MicroStrategy plans to raise $42 billion to buy more bitcoin.</li><li>The company's market value is about $45 billion, highlighting the massive scale of the investment.</li></ul>Microstrategy has been piling into bitcoin for years, but its latest investment is huge even by its standards. The company, led by chairman, founder, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">bitcoin</a> evangelist Michael Saylor, said it plans to raise $42 billion to buy more bitcoin.That amount is just shy of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/mstr-stock">MicroStrategy's</a> entire market value of about $45 billion."Our focus remains to increase value generated to our shareholders by leveraging the digital transformation of capital," MicroStrategy CEO Phong Le said in a press release.The software company said it plans to raise the $42 billion via an equal-split of stock and debt sales over the next three years.The company filed a $21 billion at-the-market offering with the SEC on Wednesday. This type of offering allows the company to sell stock directly into the market at its discretion and add the proceeds to its balance sheet.With MicroStrategy stock trading near its highest level since the dot-com bubble peak of March 2000, it's a good time for the company to sell more stock, especially considering the struggles facing its underlying software business. MicroStrategy lost about $433 million on revenues of $116 million in the third-quarter. The company's revenue was down 10% year-over-year in the quarter, notching its fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue declines.Whether it's a smart move for MicroStrategy to bet its entire market value on bitcoin rather than invest in its underlying business will hinge on the price of bitcoin.So far, the bitcoin play has worked out. Bitcoin traded above $70,000 on Thursday, just below its all-time high of nearly $74,000.MicroStrategy has been on a bitcoin buying spree since 2020, accumulating about 252,000 bitcoins at an average cost basis of $39,266 per bitcoin.As of September 30, MicroStrategy's bitcoin holdings were worth $16 billion, about one-third of the company's overall market value.

Microstrategy is raising $42 billion — almost its entire market value — to buy more bitcoin 

Muskmelon, also known as cantaloupe or sweet melon, is a delectable fruit prized for its juicy sweetness and refreshing taste. With its vibrant orange flesh and unique aroma, muskmelon adds a burst of flavor to various dishes and is enjoyed as a standalone treat. In this article, we'll delve into the nutritional value, health benefits, culinary uses, and precautions associated with muskmelon. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is Muskmelon?" comment="subhead" text="What is Muskmelon?">What is Muskmelon?</cmsannotation> Muskmelon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and is characterized by its round or oval shape, ribbed exterior, and sweet, juicy flesh. It is commonly cultivated in warm climates and is available in different varieties, each with its distinct flavor and texture. Nutritional Value Muskmelon is not only delicious but also packs a nutritional punch. It is rich in vitamins A and C, both of which are potent antioxidants that help boost immunity and promote healthy skin. Additionally, muskmelon is a good source of potassium, which supports heart health and helps regulate blood pressure. Health Benefits Consuming muskmelon offers various health benefits due to its nutrient-rich composition. The high water content in muskmelon helps keep the body hydrated and aids in digestion. The fruit's fiber content promotes satiety, aids in weight management, and supports digestive health. Culinary Uses Muskmelon is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in numerous culinary creations. It is delicious when eaten fresh as a snack or added to fruit salads, smoothies, and desserts like sorbets and fruit bowls. Muskmelon can also be paired with savory ingredients in salads, salsas, and cold soups for a refreshing twist. <keyword id="21247432" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="types-of-muskmelons" source="Orion">Types of Muskmelons</keyword> Muskmelons come in various types, including the classic cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and Galia melon, each with its unique flavor and texture profile. Cantaloupe has a sweet and aromatic flavor with orange flesh, while honeydew melon is known for its pale green flesh and subtly sweet taste. <keyword id="21247433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="how-to-buy-and-store-muskmelon" source="Orion">How to Buy and Store Muskmelon</keyword> When selecting muskmelons, look for fruits that feel heavy for their size and have a fragrant aroma. Avoid melons with soft spots or signs of mold. Store whole muskmelons at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerate them for up to a week. Once cut, store muskmelon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Precautions and Potential Side Effects While muskmelon is generally safe for consumption, individuals with melon allergies should avoid it. Some people may also experience digestive discomfort or allergic reactions after consuming muskmelon. It's essential to practice moderation and monitor your body's response, especially if you have existing health conditions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Frequently Asked Questions" comment="subhead" text="Frequently Asked Questions">Frequently Asked Questions</cmsannotation> Can muskmelon help with hydration? Yes, muskmelon has a high water content, making it an excellent choice for staying hydrated, especially during hot weather or after physical activity. Can i eat <keyword id="13343135" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="muskmelon-for-weight-loss" source="Orion">muskmelon for weight loss</keyword> diets? Yes, muskmelon is low in calories and high in water and fiber, making it a satisfying snack option for those trying to lose weight. How can I incorporate muskmelon into savory dishes? Muskmelon can be diced and added to salads, salsas, or cold soups for a refreshing and sweet contrast to savory ingredients. Can I freeze muskmelon? Yes, muskmelon can be frozen for later use in smoothies or sorbets. Simply cut the fruit into chunks, spread them on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag or container for storage. <keyword id="21247437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="freezing-muskmelon" source="Orion">Freezing muskmelon</keyword> increases the shelf life of muskmelon. Are muskmelons and cantaloupes the same thing? While muskmelon is a broader term that encompasses various melon varieties, cantaloupe refers specifically to one type of muskmelon with orange flesh and a sweet aroma. Muskmelon is more than just a delicious fruit; it's a nutritional powerhouse that offers a myriad of culinary possibilities and health benefits. Whether enjoyed fresh as a snack, blended into smoothies, or incorporated into savory dishes, muskmelon delights the taste buds and nourishes the body. By embracing the versatility of muskmelon and incorporating it into your diet, you can enjoy its sweet flavor while reaping its numerous nutritional rewards. Let muskmelon add a burst of freshness to your meals and elevate your culinary experiences with its natural goodness. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt.

Muskmelon: A refreshing fruit with culinary delights and health benefits

Bananas are a beloved fruit renowned for their sweet flavor, creamy texture, and versatile culinary applications. From being enjoyed as a convenient snack to serving as a key ingredient in various dishes, bananas hold a special place in cuisines worldwide. In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about bananas, from their nutritional value and health benefits to their diverse culinary uses and precautions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What are Bananas?" comment="subhead" text="What are Bananas?">What are Bananas?</cmsannotation> Bananas are the fruit of the banana plant, scientifically known as Musa. They are characterized by their elongated shape, vibrant yellow peel (which may vary in color), and soft, creamy flesh. Bananas are widely cultivated and consumed across the globe, prized for their naturally sweet taste and convenience. Nutritional Value: Bananas are nutritional powerhouses, packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. They are rich in potassium, an electrolyte that plays a vital role in heart health, muscle function, and fluid balance. Bananas also contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, and fiber, making them a nutritious addition to a balanced diet. Health Benefits: Bananas offer numerous health benefits, thanks to their impressive nutrient profile. They are known to support heart health, aid digestion, and regulate blood pressure due to their high potassium content. The fiber in bananas promotes satiety and may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Additionally, bananas provide a quick and convenient source of energy, making them an ideal pre- or post-workout snack. Culinary Uses: Bananas are incredibly versatile in the kitchen and can be enjoyed in various forms. They can be eaten raw as a snack or sliced and added to cereals, yogurt, or oatmeal for a nutritious breakfast. Bananas are also popularly used in smoothies, baked goods like banana bread or muffins, and desserts such as banana pudding or ice cream. <keyword id="10904396" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="types-of-bananas" source="Orion">Types of Bananas</keyword>: Bananas come in different varieties, each with its unique flavor, texture, and intended use. Common varieties include the Cavendish banana, which is widely available and typically eaten fresh, and the plantain, a starchy banana variety often used in cooking and frying when green or in savory dishes when ripe. <keyword id="21238685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="how-to-buy-and-store-bananas" source="Orion">How to Buy and Store Bananas</keyword>: When purchasing bananas, look for firm, yellow bananas without any signs of bruising or damage. Bananas can be stored at room temperature, but they ripen quickly, so it's best to consume them within a few days. To extend their shelf life, you can store ripe bananas in the refrigerator or freeze them for later use in smoothies or baking. Precautions and Potential Side Effects: While bananas are generally safe for consumption, individuals with latex allergies may experience cross-reactivity and allergic reactions to bananas. Additionally, bananas are naturally high in sugar, so individuals with diabetes or those watching their sugar intake should monitor their portion sizes. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Frequently Asked Questions" comment="subhead" text="Frequently Asked Questions">Frequently Asked Questions</cmsannotation> Are green bananas safe to eat? Yes, green bananas are safe to eat and are often used in cooking or frying when unripe. They are starchier and less sweet than ripe bananas. Can bananas help with muscle cramps? Yes, bananas are rich in potassium, which may help prevent muscle cramps and support overall muscle function. What are some <keyword id="21238687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="creative-ways-to-use-ripe-bananas" source="Orion">creative ways to use ripe bananas</keyword>? Ripe bananas can be mashed and used as a natural sweetener in baking recipes, blended into smoothies, or frozen and dipped in chocolate for a healthy dessert. Are bananas suitable for a weight loss diet? While bananas are nutritious and filling, they are also calorie-dense due to their sugar content. Moderation is key when incorporating bananas into a weight loss diet. Can bananas be eaten by infants and toddlers? Yes, bananas are a popular first food for infants due to their soft texture and natural sweetness. They are also a convenient and nutritious snack for toddlers and children. Bananas are not only delicious but also offer a host of nutritional benefits and culinary possibilities. Whether enjoyed fresh, incorporated into recipes, or used as a natural sweetener, bananas are a versatile fruit that can enhance both the flavor and nutrition of your meals. By embracing the culinary versatility of bananas and incorporating them into your diet in moderation, you can savor their delicious taste while reaping their numerous health benefits. Let the humble banana inspire your culinary creativity and nourish your body and soul with its natural goodness. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt.

Bananas: a versatile fruit for culinary creations and nutritional benefits

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Generative AI's initial hype in advertising is now tempered with growing skepticism.</li><li>Still, major agencies like Publicis and WPP are planning significant AI investments.</li></ul>Two years after OpenAI's ChatGPT and other chatbots launched, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-has-marketing-problem-people-dont-like-hearing-about-it-2024-8">advertising community's excitement over generative AI</a> has come down to earth.The shift was evident at New York's Advertising Week, a four-day gathering this week that organizers expected 17,000 to attend. On panels and in off-stage conversations, industry insiders seemed to talk as much about the limitations as the promises of AI."I think for the first time I'm starting to hear skepticism around AI," said Ashwin Navin, CEO and cofounder of Samba TV, a TV measurement firm.In an industry that loves to show it's early to adopt new tech, it's been easy for practitioners to claim they're using generative AI to do things that aren't really new, like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-artificial-intelligence-is-used-in-marketing-strategy-2024-5">basic personalizing</a> and targeting ads, he said. "What's the marketing spin versus what's new for marketers to evaluate?"Disciples of generative AI say it can take the pain out of some of the repetitive tasks involved in analyzing data, buying ads, and matching ads to specific groups of people. The major advertising agency groups — including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ad-group-publicis-lays-out-300-million-ai-ambitions-2024-1">Publicis</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.marketingdive.com/news/havas-AI-future-investment-integrated-communications/719569/">Havas</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://adage.com/article/agency-news/wpp-invest-318-million-ai-annually-mark-read-says/2539231">WPP</a> — have all pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in AI over the next few years. Last year, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/generative-ai-for-marketing-research/">Salesforce</a> survey showed about three-quarters of marketers were or planned to use generative AI.But there's been a growing narrative in the industry that some of the new AI tech isn't much of a leap forward from what was already available."There's a potential for a generative AI solution to just be a solution in search of a problem," said Andrew Lipsman, an independent media, advertising, and commerce analyst. "An ad buying user interface is usually just a few fields of information to toggle through to set up your campaign. I'm not sure that's something that really needs to be further solved."Zaid Al-Qassab, the global CEO of advertising agency M&amp;C Saatchi, said in a recent interview with Business Insider that AI can be a distraction for clients. "The real question is, what's your business challenge?"Al-Qassab said he sees plenty of promise in the tech. After he started in the role in May, he made a set of AI tools used in one part of the company available to everyone. One of the features pulls from a bunch of data sources to evaluate how people feel about a brand. He's also optimistic about AI's ability to generate ideas for ad campaigns, personalize ads beyond just changing the recipient's name, and save time writing client briefs.But other things, like AI project management tools, can't replace the value of a face-to-face client meeting with an agency rep, he said."It can't represent you," he said.Then there's the question of creativity. Some advertisers like Google and Toys "R" Us have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-has-marketing-problem-people-dont-like-hearing-about-it-2024-8">met with backlash</a> when using or referencing AI in their ads, often because of the fear among audiences that AI could replace jobs and sap human creativity.Generally, in conversations with seven industry insiders around Advertising Week, the areas most frequently mentioned as having promise with AI were improving targeting and ad creative, but their potential was far from being fully realized.<h2 id="446c0bf2-a9d9-45f1-bb85-d25f6b2a1a76">Some uses of AI show some promise, but have limitations</h2>Early on, it was easy to see how AI could cut costs by doing some rote tasks. But people in the field say for it to transform advertising, they expect it to do more, like improve the quality of ad messaging and targeting."Let's not just think about how to cut costs; let's use it to do better storytelling," Samba's Navin said.That's starting to happen. Media companies like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nbcuniversal-using-emotional-targeting-new-gen-ai-driven-ads-2024-3">NBCUniversal</a> use AI to analyze topics in video content so advertisers can run contextual ads around that content. NBCU said ads performed up to 49% better this way.Another area AI is starting to work in is finding new potential customers. Adtech firm DoubleVerify brought a client, Diageo, on stage at Advertising Week to share its success using DoubleVerify's AI tool to help sell its spirits like Ketel One vodka while keeping costs down.Speaking on another panel, Nick Fairbairn, VP of marketing at finance app Chime, said AI helped him find unexpected media outlets to target people for a new product launch.That said, even when AI tools have had positive results, ad insiders often also spoke of their limitations.Joshua Nafman, VP of data and operations at Diageo, said that while DoubleVerify's AI tool helped boost sales, Diageo had to roll out the process one brand, ad campaign, and market at a time."We started joking, it was not test and learn, it's retest and relearn," Nafman said.Fairbairn said he sees an opportunity to use AI to match ads to individuals, but added that it was early days."I want to make sure it doesn't just look like the same ad with a different word," he said.Though enthusiasm about AI was tempered in the industry at this year's Advertising Week, there wasn't a widespread abandonment of the tech. AI-focused panels were as well attended as ever.Some also see opportunity in the friction.Adtech company LiveRamp announced a pair of AI partnerships to help marketers find the right AI company for a given problem.LiveRamp CEO Scott Howe said that while AI is a hot industry topic, many marketers are unsure how to use it."In some respects, they're more scared about it because they think there's downside, because they don't understand what the upside is," Howe said. "We feel there's a gap in the industry that we can help fill."

Advertisers are scrutinizing the value of AI tools as some early efforts fall flat

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Using a 401(k) can boost investment portfolios by 23%, per Charles Schwab study.</li><li>The study compared 401(k) and taxable accounts over 20 years with an 8% annual return.</li></ul>Nothing is less exciting than thinking about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/taxes">taxes</a>, especially when the bill is coming due.And once you cross into the first quarter of the year, little can be done to reduce your tax liability, especially if you're a W2 employee.That's why thinking about deferral strategies is a great way to reduce how much you pay in taxes and increase your net worth in the long term. But to maximize your outcome, you have to start with a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/what-is-401k">401(k)</a> or a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/what-is-ira">Traditional IRA</a>, according to a recent simulated study by Charles Schwab. The study showed how a 401(k) could increase an investment portfolio's value by 23%.The study, which was backtested over 20 years, compared two investors, one who used a taxable brokerage account versus one who used a 401(k). At an 8% annual return, it found that the latter finished with a value of $177,116 compared to the taxable account at $144,547. Based on this scenario, it assumed that someone allocating funds after tax in a 24% bracket would have a principal investment of $38,000 compared to $50,000. It also assumed taxable events on a turnover rate every five years and on 2% qualified income dividends and 6% long-term capital gains.<div type="image" title="Chart showing increased portfolio value with tax-deferred account." height="1064" width="1846" msid="114955475" hostid="261" sizebytes="34694"></div>In a scenario where an investor uses a taxable account but doesn't turnover or realize gains every five years, meaning taxable events are only placed on the 2% dividends, the outcome would lead to an ending value of $152,392.One caveat is that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-loopholes-to-reduce-or-avoid-capital-gains-taxes-2024-10">tax-deferred accounts</a> don't take into account every phase of where taxation can occur along the investment process, says Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning at Charles Schwab. The first point is when money is earned and before it's invested. The second is when income and dividend payments are earned along the way. The third point is once gains are realized. The first two taxation points are covered. The last phase isn't. For this process, other accounts, such as Roth IRAs for after-tax contributions allow gains to grow tax-free.Roth IRAs could come in handy in retirement during years when you have a higher withdrawal rate and, in turn, fund yourself in a higher tax bracket.<h2 id="bd273b03-5ffe-4b6d-8acc-d2373d85fc37">Other tax tips</h2>Another option people don't think about as much is a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-use-health-savings-account-retirement-tool-investing-wealth-2024-10">health savings account</a>, which is unique, Williams noted. You have to qualify for those with an employer that provides it through a health insurance policy with a high deductible plan. But they are a nice additional tool that investors can use to contribute from their paycheck, he added.It's contributed pre-tax. And if the money isn't used for healthcare costs, it can be saved and invested in that health savings account and grow tax-free. It's tax deferral and tax avoidance, he noted."For a health savings account, that's powerful," Williams said. "We call that a triple tax exemption. You get no taxes when you put the money in and no taxes on any growth or capital gains in the fund. And then when you take it out, you don't have any taxes as well."Taxable brokerage or investment accounts are still useful because they allow you to withdraw money before retirement. This is especially great in the event you need to make a big purchase. But when using these accounts, investors should consider the assets they're buying. For example, exchange-traded funds have less tax drag than mutual funds that have higher turnover and, in turn, more taxable events, Williams noted."Any investment or mutual fund that generates a fair amount of investment income, whether it's interest or dividends, do not tend to be very tax efficient," Williams said.This also means considering how funds distribute gains, such as whether they are qualified or ordinary dividends. The latter is taxed at an investor's tax rate and depending on what margin that's in, it may not be as advantageous as a qualified dividend.

How tax-deferred investing can increase a portfolio's value by 23% and the account that provides a triple benefit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-residents-moving-leaving-climate-change-refugees-hurricanes-flood-2023-2">climate crisis</a> is an often-hidden financial risk when buying a house.</li><li>A few online tools can help you assess that risk and possible costs by address.</li></ul>If you're <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-man-refused-leave-hurricane-proof-home-basically-unharmed-milton-2024-10">shopping for a house</a>, you're probably thinking ahead and planning for your future.Here's the thing, though: By the end of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgages/will-mortgage-rates-go-down-this-year">30-year mortgage</a>, you'll be living on a pretty different planet.Even if companies and governments across the world make some drastic changes — and that's a big "if" — humanity's carbon emissions have already locked in some additional warming for decades to come. That means more intense and sometimes more frequent floods, wildfires, hurricanes, winter storms, and other forms of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-outlook-analysis-prices-rising-extreme-weather-risk-jpmorgan-2024-2">extreme weather</a>.You and your house could suffer everything from headaches and declining <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-higher-home-prices-climate-change-air-quality-impact-2024-2">property value</a> to giant bills and life-threatening events.That's why it's important to take stock of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-housing-market-prediction-sun-belt-climate-change-zelman-2024-7">climate risks your home faces</a> in the coming decades.It's impossible to know exactly what will happen, but a few <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tool-determines-home-climate-risk-heat-wind-bad-air-2024-3">online tools</a> can give you an idea of the risks — as well as the costs you could incur and what you can do about it — depending on which house you buy.<h2 id="f72716a3-6428-4f34-94f8-2f3ebf4d7693">Learn about the possible damages</h2>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zillow-gone-wild-weird-unique-houses-homes-hot-homebuying-selling-2024-7">most popular real-estate website</a> in the US, Zillow, has a new feature to peer into the potential climate future of each listing. The new "climate risks" tool shows <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/map-shows-united-states-extreme-heat-belt-study-2022-8">how many days of extreme heat</a> and unhealthy air quality a property is expected to see over the next 30 years, assuming humanity is on track to stabilize climate change by 2100. The tool also shows the likelihood of more destructive events: floods, wildfires, and windstorms.<div type="image" title="group of people watch wildfire burning home in the hills with palm trees" height="1771" width="2500" msid="114374425" hostid="261" sizebytes="281278"></div>These assessments come from First Street, a former nonprofit that became a for-profit company this year, which uses computer models to quantify certain weather and climate risks for individual properties. First Street says it incorporates a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/maui-wildfires-lahaina-wooden-house-spared-among-rubble-2023-8">building's specific structural characteristics</a>, as well as local infrastructure like roads and utilities."If you don't take stock of the climate risk specifically, you could be in over your head," Jeremy Porter, the head of climate implications research at First Street, told Business Insider.For example, if the cost of flood or wildfire insurance spikes as it already has in places like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/homeowners-california-florida-insurance-issues-natural-disasters-wildfires-hurricanes-2023-10">Florida and California</a>, "all of a sudden your household budget doesn't make any sense for the property that you ended up buying," he said.The new Zillow tool also makes recommendations about insurance based on First Street's analysis.To dive even deeper, you can go to First Street's website and get a free trial of its paid service, which shows ballpark estimates of how much a flood or fire could cost you, expected cooling costs, and projections of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-insurance-hurricanes-extreme-weather-relocate-to-ocala-2023-10">insurance prices</a>. You can also toggle certain renovations to see how they impact those costs.<h2 id="0eef8ad3-480e-4072-aadf-cb64222742c5">Remember those estimates aren't a crystal ball</h2>Climate-science experts outside the company have some reservations about First Street's flood and wildfire estimates, though.Michael Wara, a senior research scholar at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://heatmap.news/guides/zillow-climate-risk-flooding-fire">Heatmap News</a> to take First Street's calculations with "a lot of grains of salt."Heatmap reported that First Street probably underestimates <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-wildfire-burns-multimillion-dollar-homes-in-california-orange-county-2022-5">wildfire risk</a> in wildfire-prone areas and that flood risk is very difficult to accurately model. You can try to cross-check flood risk with other sources like seeing if the town or city has flood maps available."Everything that we're offering are probabilistic risk estimates," Porter said."I think that just in general, the models give you a pretty good indication of which properties are riskier than other properties," he added.<h2 id="ea2c710b-3a7a-45fe-b58f-971596d4b019">Then check local building codes…</h2>Once you know the climate risks, you can assess <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-why-some-homes-survive-hurricanes-lessons-homeowners-2024-10">how well a property is built</a> to withstand them.<div type="image" title="slumping one-story grey and wood panel house with panels ripped away next to a standing yellow house" height="1500" width="2249" msid="114374424" hostid="261" sizebytes="407800"></div>A good indicator of that is the local building code and whether the house is built to its standards. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes has a tool for checking that at <a target="_blank" href="http://inspecttoprotect.org">inspecttoprotect.org</a>.Not only does FLASH rate the local building code, but the tool also shows information about the area's past <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-how-profit-natural-disasters-hurricanes-wildfires-storms-investors-2023-8">natural disasters</a> and suggests upgrades.<h2 id="03112be6-cab7-49c5-9eed-55cc34037179">... and consider renovations</h2>In the FLASH tool, you can select the year a house was built to see what <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiny-home-renovation-old-abandoned-cottage-scotland-before-after-photos-2022-7">renovations</a> would strengthen it against different natural disasters. Each upgrade has a cost and impact rating.Taking matters into your own hands could make a big difference because, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science/bcat#:~:text=FEMA%20tracks%20the%20building%20code,simply%20by%20its%20acronym%2C%20BCAT.">according</a> to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, only about one-third of US jurisdictions have adopted up-to-date codes to match their natural hazards.Even then, building codes are often designed to protect the lives of people inside the house, but not necessarily to prevent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-homeowner-milton-tearing-through-neighborhood-cant-sleep-2024-10">expensive property damage</a>."You got to at least have a good building code, but that's a starting point. It's not your gold standard, it's your minimum," Leslie Chapman-Henderson, FLASH's president and CEO, told BI.In some cases, renovations and upgrades can even help lower your insurance costs.

Before buying a home, check this hidden financial risk

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mortgage rates stayed high despite rate cuts, attracting cash-heavy investors to the housing market.</li><li>Despite values dropping in some areas, those selling are still raking in gains.</li></ul>Despite the central bank cutting interest rates, mortgage rates haven't followed suit. The average <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgages/average-mortgage-interest-rate">30-year term remains near 6.21%</a>.Still, there was an uptick in buyers during the second quarter, specifically those who are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/how-to-invest-in-real-estate-make-money">investors</a>, according to the latest data available from Redfin. The share of investors who purchased property rose 3.4% from a year earlier. They were likely attracted by an opportunity to meet the growing demand of renters who face barriers to homeownership that a lack of affordability and elevated mortgage rates have brought on, read the note by Lily Katz.Home prices nationwide, including those that were <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgages/how-to-buy-a-foreclosed-home">distressed sales</a>, increased by 4.3% in July from a year ago, according to CoreLogic. An investor purchased one out of every six properties sold within the second quarter and one of every four low-priced homes for a whopping $43 billion worth of real estate, Katz wrote.Investors, which the real estate data firm defines as buyers whose ownership code on a purchasing deed includes either association, corporate trustee, company, joint venture, or corporate trust, are less reliant on debt and are not as rate-sensitive as the average buyer. Most, or 69%, pay in cash or make bigger down payments. It means they can take advantage of the lack of competition.Some of the cities that have seen a rise in investor interest include San Jose, CA, Portland, OR, and Denver, CO. Meanwhile, there has been a drop in purchases in areas like Oakland, CA, and Providence, RI, where median capital gains have plunged by 20% and 37% respectively.The chart below demonstrates the change in investor purchases over the last two decades. It shows upticks following the housing bubble crash and in the years that followed the pandemic.<div type="image" title="Chart demonstrates eb and flow of real estate investor activity." height="834" width="1626" msid="114377796" hostid="261" sizebytes="34338"></div>But whether they're buying or selling, investors have been doing quite well regarding capital gains, says Elijah de la Campa, a senior economist at Redfin. This was not the case in the years leading up to the housing crisis, where property owners were losing from selling."I still see the opportunity for making money on my investments and making a considerable amount of money with 30%, 40% price increases relative to the prior year," de la Campa said. "While things might be more challenging in certain places, overall it looks like there are still lots of opportunities to make money at buying and selling homes as an investor. "He added that even the cities seeing a retreat in their capital gains from a year ago are still profitable at their sale; they're just not going for as much as they would have last June.Below is a list of the 39 major metro areas in descending order of median capital gains over the past year into June. What stands out most to de la Campa is that many areas with the highest capital gains are affordable, particularly Philadelphia and Warren, MI.<table style="minWidth: 50px"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>Region</td><td>Median % Capital Gain YoY (pps)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Philadelphia, PA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">37.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Warren, MI</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">36.80%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">San Jose, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">24.50%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Newark, NJ</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">20.80%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">San Francisco, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">15.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Detroit, MI</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">15.00%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baltimore, MD</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6.60%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Portland, OR</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6.40%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Anaheim, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5.60%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Chicago, IL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Fort Lauderdale, FL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.40%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Los Angeles, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.30%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Seattle, WA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">3.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Phoenix, AZ</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-0.30%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Columbus, OH</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-0.40%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Milwaukee, WI</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-1.50%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Las Vegas, NV</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-2.20%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">New Brunswick, NJ</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-3.10%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Tampa, FL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-4.00%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Cleveland, OH</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-5.50%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Cincinnati, OH</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-6.10%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Minneapolis, MN</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-6.60%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Miami, FL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-7.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Orlando, FL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-8.60%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">San Diego, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-9.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sacramento, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-11.50%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">West Palm Beach, FL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-11.50%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Atlanta, GA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-14.80%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Washington, DC</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-15.00%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Denver, CO</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-15.30%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Charlotte, NC</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-16.00%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Nashville, TN</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-17.90%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Riverside, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-18.20%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jacksonville, FL</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-18.70%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Oakland, CA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-20.10%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Montgomery County, PA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-26.60%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Virginia Beach, VA</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-28.40%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">New York, NY</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-29.10%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Providence, RI</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-37.30%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Investors are piling into real estate as values skyrocket by up to 38%. 13 metros with the highest gains, and 25 that are plunging.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Domino's CEO criticized the value meals offered this summer by competitors in a Bloomberg interview.</li><li>While most companies are reporting slowdowns in fast-food spending, the pizza company saw order growth.</li></ul>According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pizza-papa-johns-dominos-pizza-hut-compared-wings-dips-photos-2024-3#it-was-cut-into-eight-large-slices-which-seemed-to-be-identical-in-size-4">Domino's</a> CEO, smaller burgers are no way to make people happy.In an interview with Bloomberg, Russell Weiner took aim at the size of his competitors' value meals, which often include burgers. The biggest fast-food companies are promoting discount deals in the US this summer, hoping to draw in inflation-weary consumers who have been spending less.Meanwhile, Domino's saw the number of orders rise across all income groups, it said in a second-quarter earnings report last week.That's thanks to Domino's decision to provide discounts on a wider menu, unlike some of its fast-food competitors that are only marking down a few items, Weiner told Bloomberg."It's like, 'Hey, the rest of our menu is expensive, but you can get this one thing you may or may not like cheaper,'" Weiner said. "If you want a big sandwich and you end up getting a little sandwich cheaper, you're not happy."Domino's offers a $6.99 meal, called the "Mix and Match" deal, that lets customers buy any two items, including pizzas and cheesy breads. It has offered the deal, which cost $5.99 until 2022, since 2009.The Mix and Match deal means that "people never have to doubt what they're going to see when they come to Domino's," Weiner told Business Insider this week."It also means we don't need to do anything over-the-top," including offers that "actually may not even be what people want," he said.Weiner also said that Domino's didn't raise costs as much as some of its competitors have over the last few years, which means it doesn't need to discount as deeply now. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-is-expensive-people-annoyed-eating-out-restaurant-2024">Fast-food prices increased rapidly</a> in 2022 and 2023, leading some customers to eat more at home or seek options that they perceive as a better value.Weiner's comments come during a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-value-meal-taste-test-mcdonalds-wendys-burger-king-2024-7">summer of value meals</a> in the US — with nearly every major outlet creating bundles to attract price-sensitive customers.Wendy's, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-launches-5-dollar-value-meal-before-mcdonalds-months-2024-5">Burger King</a>, and Taco Bell have launched versions of meals under $7. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-5-dollar-meal-promotion-inflation-cheaper-burger-chicken-fries-2024-5">McDonald's, </a>which was one of the first to launch a $5 meal, will <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/restaurants-are-competing-to-offer-the-cheapest-meals-2024-5">extend its offer until August</a>.For example, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-mcdonalds-5-dollar-meal-deal-pulling-in-customers-inflation-2024-7">McDonald's version</a> offers customers either a McChicken or a McDouble — and four-piece McNuggets, <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-new-marketing-billboards-that-smell-like-its-french-fries-2024-4">fries</a>, and a small drink for $5.While McDonald's offer seems to have gotten more customers ordering at the chain, some diners <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/customers-are-calling-mcdonalds-5-dollar-meal-deal-skimpy-2024-5">criticized the $5 deal</a> when the company announced it, saying it should've been a permanent menu option instead of a limited-time promotion.Weiner added that other sales growth came from regulars ordering more frequently, as well as more first-time orders.Domino's stock is also fairing better than other fast-food giants.It is up about 3% year-to-date, while Wendy's and McDonald's have both seen a 14% slide from the beginning of the year. Burger King's parent, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-youth-move-to-small-cities-american-food-companies-kfc-2024-4">Restaurant Brands International</a>, has fallen 9% in the same time period.Still, a better value strategy has not been enough to fully satisfy Domino's investors.The company's shares fell 14% on July 18 after it reported earnings and said that it would shutter about 100 stores in Japan and France run by its international franchisee.

Domino's CEO slams the summer of value meals 

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-expensive-prices-too-high-fast-food-restaurant-falling-sales-2024-7">McDonald's</a> said it got an early boost from its $5 meal deal promotion.</li><li>But fast-food chains need more than limited-time offers to get diners back, an analyst said.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-signature-burgers-mcdonalds-burger-king-wendys-2023-4">Fast-food</a> restaurants are getting an important reminder lately: They need more than temporary deals to get customers in the door after years of inflation.After annual <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-is-expensive-people-annoyed-eating-out-restaurant-2024">double-digit price increases at many fast-food</a> chains over the past couple of years, companies are now offering some discounts.On Monday, for example, McDonald's pointed to some early success with its latest value meal offering: A $5 meal that it initially planned to sell for a month starting at the end of June. The deal has drawn customers to its stores and even convinced them to buy more than just the meal, judging by the average order value of $10, executives said during an earnings call.However, McDonald's executives also conceded that they still need to do more to attract budget-conscious consumers."We have an opportunity to improve our value execution," CEO Chris Kempczinski said on Monday's earnings call."Consumers still recognize us as the value leader versus our key competitors, but it's clear that our value leadership gap has recently shrunk," Kempczinski added later.McDonald's is one of several national chains that has offered temporary discounts this year amid slower foot traffic at restaurants. Wendy's offered a $3 breakfast meal, and even some sit-down chains like Chili's debuted their own cheap meals.Many chains scrambled or adjusted their long-standing value menus as food prices climbed higher over the last few years.Last year, for instance, diners called out <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-1-dollar-menu-myth-most-cost-more-2023-8">McDonald's on TikTok as items that cost $1 each disappeared</a> from the chain's tiered value menu. At the time of its introduction in 2018, McDonald's value menu included multiple items at each of three price points — $1, $2, and $3.Inflation has "disrupted long-running value programs and led consumers to reconsider their buying habits," Kempczinski said during Monday's call.McDonald's is still figuring out what its permanent value offerings will look like in the US, he added later.A successor to McDonald's previous value menu won't improve sales overnight, BTIG analyst Peter Saleh wrote in a research note after McDonald's reported earnings. Instead, it "could take several months of sustained advertising" of a new permanent menu before customers take notice."We agree that McDonald's needs a broader value platform, and trying to move the consumer with a narrow offering like the $5 meal is not sufficient," Saleh wrote.Other fast-food chains have been making changes to their set value offerings.In January, Taco Bell <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taco-bell-enters-a-new-value-era-with-the-launch-of-the-new-cravings-value-menu-302028130.html">launched</a> its new Cravings Value Menu, which includes items that cost $3 or less, such as Loaded Beef Nachos ($2.99), a Spicy Potato Soft Taco ($1.19), and a Cheesy Roll Up ($1).<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-launches-5-dollar-value-meal-before-mcdonalds-months-2024-5">Burger King re-launched its own $5 value meal</a> shortly before McDonald's launch date of June 25. Like McDonald's version, Burger King's meal includes a sandwich, fries, chicken nuggets, and a soft drink.But unlike McDonald's, Burger King plans to run the promotion "for several months," according to a memo reported by Bloomberg.Do you work at McDonald's or another fast-food restaurant chain and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

That $5 McDonald's value deal might not be cheap enough

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="23150740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Daniel-Daggers" source="keywords">Daniel Daggers</keyword>, star of the Netflix show "<keyword id="23150739" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="buying-london" source="Orion">Buying London</keyword>," sells some of the UK's most expensive homes.</li><li>He spoke to BI about what selling multimillion-dollar properties to the supersuccessful is like.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Daniel Daggers, a luxury real-estate agent and star of the Netflix show <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-buying-london-luxury-real-estate-market-super-prime-property-2024-5" target="_blank">"Buying London."</a> It has been edited for length and clarity. I came from humble beginnings. When I was a kid, I would never have believed it if someone had told me, "You're going to be representing the most successful people on the planet and bouncing around the world, seeing incredible homes." When I was 17, a short internship with a local real-estate agent led to a full time job. I spent 10 years carrying the keys, driving around, and learning the industry. Then, I moved into a big firm where I started dealing with the <keyword id="23150738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="super-prime-market" source="keywords">super-prime market</keyword> — properties valued in excess of $12.8 million. Now, I run my own agency. <h2>There's nuance in what makes a property super-prime</h2>People misinterpret shiny as luxury. It's not about that. Maybe it's an incredible location, the specification of finishes is out of this world, or the live style, meaning how you live in a property, is groundbreaking. There's all this nuance and when you get a number of those assets right, that's what makes a super-prime property. To be an agent at this level, you need to use different language with your client — be more articulate, provide more detailed information, and have a different attitude to work. A knowledge of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rich-real-estate-estate-gift-tax-avoidance-wealth-planning-inheritance-2024-4">taxation</a>, structure, interior design, art, and the legal system becomes more important because you're in more of an advisory role. <h2>This job gives me a wider understanding of what's shaping our world</h2>These people are often very time-poor. There is no finishing work at 6 p.m. You have to be available by phone for help or advice at any moment in the day. But working at the top end of the market is very enjoyable. I am blessed with access to some of the best minds on the planet. We talk about anything, not just real estate. It could be children, society, art, the legal system, friends, technology, how the industry's changing — the much more macro, big-picture things. It gives you a wider understanding of what's shaping our world and how business takes place. <div type="image" title="Daniel Daggers stands against a white background in a white shirt and suit trousers smiling with his hands in his pockets." height="1280" width="855" msid="112782190" hostid="261"></div><h2>Buyers are getting younger</h2>I noticed about a decade ago that buyers were becoming much younger. Internet 2.0 enabled anyone to build businesses online, which meant the entry barrier to being <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-15-youngest-billionaires-in-america-forbes-2021-10#1-sam-bankman-fried-crypto-entrepreneur-15">a successful entrepreneur</a> dropped drastically when it came to age and increased when it came to talent. I tend to attract a lot of entrepreneurs. They come into the market after five or 10 years of hard work. You can almost watch the pattern play out with how they want to live compared to people who've grown up with wealth. They are contemporary and mobile, have a different perspective on life, and an appetite for a different kind of real estate. The traditionalists will stay in the "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/london-eaton-square-where-russian-billionaires-live-red-square-2022-3">golden postcodes</a>." Contemporary money is indifferent; they don't necessarily want that period house in Belgravia or Mayfair. They're happy to have more properties but smaller ones worldwide. There's also a massive thunderstorm of change in our industry regarding how people are made aware of real estate. We've sold properties over social media for over a decade, and now all the top agents around the world know one another and can refer business across this network. I sold a $51 million property through my close friend's network on Instagram. I was one of the first people ever to sell a property over <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-twitter-could-be-western-wechat-china-superapp-2022-6">WeChat</a>, a Chinese app I used to communicate with the buyers, a 25-year-old billionaire who didn't speak very good English. <h2>I call myself 'Mr. Super Prime.' Building a brand in this industry is essential.</h2>It's essential to build your <keyword id="20587722" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-brand" source="keywords">personal brand</keyword> if you want to be successful in this industry. When I worked in the firm, I started traveling to the US and saw how entrepreneurial they are. Every day is their best opportunity. I realized that being that person, sharing information and access was valuable. So, I started curating content, documenting my days, and building my brand online. I called myself "Mr. Super Prime," and the nickname stuck. My colleagues thought it was an ego play. I got a lot of pushback even though I was telling them all to do the same. But I was generating £400 million worth of leads a month. Now, I've scaled things up a level with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-buying-london-luxury-real-estate-market-super-prime-property-2024-5" target="_blank">my Netflix show,</a> "Buying London." This city is a hidden gem, and my agency, DDRE Global, has access to some of the most desirable homes here. People are interested in very expensive and special properties. We are all voyeurs occasionally, and there's an element of aspiration to the show. <div type="image" title="Daniel Daggers and the cast of Selling London at the premiere of the show, standing by a board with the DDRE Global branding." height="3500" width="5250" msid="112782192" hostid="261"><payload><![CDATA[Daniel Daggers and the cast of "Buying London" at its premiere]]></payload></div>Most real-estate agents are outgoing people, and if you put cameras inside anyone's house for a year and squeeze it into three hours, there will always be some drama — the show also has a fair amount of it among my employees. But competition is a healthy ingredient for people who want to be successful. Without it, you can become lazy and weak. You just need to remember that anyone you do business with today may be needed in the future. Correction: August 30, 2024 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly named the Netflix show. It is titled "Buying London," not "Selling London."

I sell multi-million dollar homes to London's super-successful. The internet has meant buyers have become much younger.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Designer hand soaps from brands like Aesop and Diptyque have become gateways into luxury shopping.</li><li>Fans praise the strong, unique scents and chic packaging of these products.</li></ul>It's been said that once you wash your hands with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-status-symbols-popular-in-homes-2024-1">Aesop's Resurrection hand soap</a>, you'll never turn back.Fans describe the <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=447298641461347ab9bc2fd7343d784347266cb9da6c5fe34fb31d4fe0205215&amp;postID=66f315268d7e7259bc9436bc&amp;postSlug=expensive-hand-soap-gateway-luxury-shopping-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aesop.com%2Fus%2Fp%2Fbody-hand%2Fhand-washes-and-balms%2Fresurrection-aromatique-hand-wash%2F">$43</a> cleanser as a household necessity thanks to its silky texture and long-lasting scent — a mix of lavender, rosemary, and mandarin-orange rinds, among other ingredients.Its chic auburn bottle made from recycled plastic is also aesthetically pleasing and has become widely viewed as a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fall-fashion-status-symbols-trends-2024-9">status symbol of luxury</a> taste.You'll also find on shelves <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.perfumesloewe.com/int/en_US/home-scents/bath-line/soaps/tomato-leaves-soap-bar-duo-set-LW81436.html">$68</a> bars of Loewe's tomato-leaf-scented soap, <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=081a240de436f5bb9fd8d95ce1b08bebb1be4cc99e14ba011db4d870f262bded&amp;postID=66f315268d7e7259bc9436bc&amp;postSlug=expensive-hand-soap-gateway-luxury-shopping-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.diptyqueparis.com%2Fen_us%2Fp%2Fsoftening-hand-wash-glass-1.html">$75</a> glass bottles filled with Diptyque cleanser, and an <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=cbc6ae66525529c8f389aa2b7491198af43fae9dbd56c78518bed679f2bb1a27&amp;postID=66f315268d7e7259bc9436bc&amp;postSlug=expensive-hand-soap-gateway-luxury-shopping-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neimanmarcus.com%2Fp%2Fmaison-francis-kurkdjian-baccarat-rouge-540-hand-and-body-cleansing-gel-11-8-oz-prod266080055">$85</a> liquid-soap version of Maison Francis Kurkdjian's famous Baccarat Rouge 540 fragrance.Ultimately, though, it's just soap.They remove dirt and grime from hands while leaving behind strong, signature scents. They're also priced astronomically high — especially compared to the $1.29 bottles of Softsoap that line the shelves of big box stores.That's not to say shoppers are being swindled into buying expensive soap. Instead, they're strategically using these simple products as gateways into the world of luxury goods.<div type="image" title="aesop resurrection hand wash on a dark bacground" height="1093" width="1800" msid="114773494" hostid="261" sizebytes="57054"></div><h2 id="0d70df1e-0a7d-456a-bead-61dabad491c1">The appeal of super-expensive suds</h2>Emma, a 23-year-old perfumery student and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@perfumerism">content creator</a>, first dipped her hands into expensive soap while shopping for Dior products in Montreal."I remember wanting to bring something home, but I didn't want to spend so much money," she told Business Insider.On a whim, she purchased a green liquid soap called Lucky, which she felt had an "entry-level pricepoint" for a Dior item. A bottle costs <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=3ec0a81970df181337fa151cd2b7872aba4a35eefce5d675274e604f5dfe476a&amp;postID=66f315268d7e7259bc9436bc&amp;postSlug=expensive-hand-soap-gateway-luxury-shopping-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dior.com%2Fen_us%2Fbeauty%2Fproducts%2Flucky-Y0996433.html">$70</a>.Emma loved it instantly, especially since friends regularly complimented the soap whenever they used her bathroom.Once the bottle was emptied a few weeks later, Emma said she and her friends asked each other: "OK, what are we going to try next?"<div type="image" title="dior" height="715" width="1040" msid="114773493" hostid="261" sizebytes="45750"></div>Emma represents the larger group of soap superfans who have bought into the sudsy craze.Searching "luxury soap" on TikTok results in countless videos — many of which have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@benneiley/video/7192370650214878510?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7394903114639590955">over one million views</a> — detailing the best high-end cleansers and citing soaps like those from Aesop as some of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thekimberlyfoo/video/7404272860811758878?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7394903114639590955">best gift options</a> on the market. Expensive soaps aren't exactly a new craze. Luxe hotels, spas, and gyms have been stocking them in bathrooms for decades. Still, the industry has exploded in recent years. Consumers began buying designer soap for their homes more widely in the late 2010s, and in 2018, the global market for bath soap was valued at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/global-19-5-billion-bath-soap-market-2011-2018-2019-2024-p-g-is-the-largest-player-followed-by-unilever-and-colgate-palmolive-1027969276">$19.5 billion</a>.The industry just keeps growing. A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/pressrelease/bath-soap-market">2024 report</a> by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/pressrelease/bath-soap-market">Expert Market Research</a> said the global soap market could reach over $36 billion in revenue by 2032, and luxury soap products are partially to thank.The report cites the development of high-end soaps and millennial shoppers with rising disposable incomes as factors in the growing industry.<h2 id="0bfc6ee9-2746-4abc-9b4e-8831542e47bd">Washing dollars down the drain or elevating hand washing?</h2>Since buying her first luxury cleanser in 2023, Emma has tried close to a dozen expensive hand soaps and reviewed them on TikTok for her 507,000 followers. Her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@perfumerism/video/7259173950092053766?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7394903114639590955">most popular video,</a> which was posted in July 2023 and highlights her favorites, has gotten more than 272,000 views as of Tuesday.Emma told BI that her ultimate goal is to find one luxury soap, preferably one with a fancy bottle and long-lasting scent, to be her home's signature."I tried one Malin + Goetz soap, but the packaging wasn't for me or my personal aesthetic. So I wrote it off a little because of that," she said of the stark white plastic bottle decorated with an expansive ingredient list. "I have to like how a soap bottle looks. It has to be a flex in my room."Veteran cosmetic chemist and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://beautystat.com/pages/about-us?">BeautyStat</a> founder Ron Robinson said Emma's focus on scent and aesthetics is common in his experience. He told BI that he's noticed a rising interest in luxury soaps partly because they are "affordable luxury" and because of their reusable packaging, which adds a sustainability element.Whereas Loewe's most coveted bags vary by season and can cost up to $11,000 each, the brand's soap costs $80 at most and can be used all year round.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sommyyah">Sommyyah Awan</a>, 32, a content creator from Toronto, realized this while in college.<div type="image" title="A Byredo store in London, England." height="1168" width="1756" msid="114773490" hostid="261" sizebytes="285998"></div>"My budget was small because I was a student, but I felt that a luxury soap was a way for me to dip my toes into this world that I wanted to be part of," she told BI.Now, luxe soaps are a staple of her home. Byredo's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.byredo.com/us_en/body-care/hand-care/hand-wash/">$70</a> bottles and Jo Malone London's <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=a37e5fc34012efda8ae118cd2738c4f79b98a91615c2b68b0ff3138f5e65e858&amp;postID=66f315268d7e7259bc9436bc&amp;postSlug=expensive-hand-soap-gateway-luxury-shopping-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jomalone.com%2Fproduct%2F25956%2F118182%2Fbath-body%2Fmyrrh-tonka-body-hand-wash%3Fsize%3D250ml">$65</a> soaps are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sommyyah/video/7352975396880567594">her favorites</a>."You're just washing your hands. It's a simple act," she said. "But to do it with a soap that smells wonderful, lathers beautifully, and comes in an aesthetically pleasing bottle — it's just a way to elevate an everyday experience."Expensive soap is also a luxury that can be shared, unlike designer accessories, which are often worn by one and admired by others."There's a community element to luxury soap," Emma told BI. "It feels like I'm not just doing it for me. I'm doing it to enjoy with my roommates. It becomes a point of conversation."So yes, buying luxury soap might seem to some like you're washing money down the drain. To others, the pricey products are a step toward luxury.

Designer bags are expensive. So some people are buying luxe hand soap instead.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A new study shows 51.6% of US stocks since 1925 lost value over their lifetimes.</li><li>But there are steps one can take to mitigate risk, says Lance Roberts.</li></ul>It may come as a surprise that most stocks lose value over their lifetimes, given the long-term outperformance of major indexes like the S&amp;P 500.A <a target="_blank" href="https://download.ssrn.com/2024/10/1/4897069.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline&amp;X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEC0aCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIQDN0qA7vH3iVQ7kMnZb4o9%2B6lcNFjaOmf49w%2Bw5bU5jTwIgcl%2BOpTpgkU0WOQS0sUYTeqH4vOVA8%2B8E6WE59iHcgnEqxgUIlv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARAEGgwzMDg0NzUzMDEyNTciDCv3AwTMvnly0NCcWyqaBSrLGbVPR%2FoKw54NV4LpS3q9DrkC7NW5xBeK2ftAprs7ZR3zweHEhwYokQZoeckyXVjOYsfI5OgW5X%2Bhoc1%2BXcM0CqhRVsDEfiBV4qaTawLsmCdPLxe25894Br3LsWasPrlqCZAH0%2BxqDk2kc9I8ll7kgw29%2Bmxqt0yMQeFb94WPydLAWP2stv7jD115u2xfyuzvMlKTlQ8n4q5ZgJrPTd0kZ6g17XIlXbj8IL%2BvVqr7whu15KdngyMNqBNVU9GkBTLR81ubC8l%2B%2FTW3xSxgv6BbMntgX35R6HQv2uOzghLnb1qbkEdKYJFV4R62Fte8CUaOCwctmVXfLasGnKnT5BSiEdYnOhZQbdlmUPn%2FAWZdQRjqL8wm0iDfuM4BtEY1z0ciIiJ4NY0j7oglRko3K4qqP40u1U6CaAH2DhQeFdhQKa439hGN9RDg9RBi3%2FJ3onq6CHpFJuwtPv8Yku5vVy6xtVdk3YQ96ByG3T1VmjbABE3GdTwdsUxl%2BQfCS3RY%2FjHUDhbCai6ISC224s0DqUFs8FScV5TgvzgtkV8H4DuKVmOiK5qPX7vYHRRhbwcuBjxYMYZQjiAoTTckr2YYAKBnKsROl%2FnNdm4G5ajKXDWMAg9Qr2lp7MOSOYS2HRoUq3WQM%2BqPFe5dvmhJAi0VdiglMOVr2nOKLlcJYslVEmVSPh1gsSwc%2FuGB3zqv4nMD9aF9yURFCH3D4hSVN7yxxfiICYhDa7ShR7zJrYlE3ynmdUq93rBo7BNZYUB9osihmSdmZ%2BmgMv7JbliHmQQ3%2BAcziK6rMzmyeIRnAvLRc2RBywKi0xELG%2BhdhhaHjhpIfp2om%2FUK0K40CScj8RPLooS%2BESjM7Um1N3VZOe6BAOYE5BLTmiyHG1QMezDZ9tq4BjqxATVtLNrOOHOYEAQZIosRIxp1zb2GclGkoEhSicOA%2BE%2BbO2hvslHnjd40DFltPtmBYF11Njs6G5hJhfO692AkL4qSuuMuHPv7kdkzrC8POj3h6JnqrPdWUkFqC%2F3UWvPe87E26USmQo59UWLnXFizN94H58Zcmu5wf9eSMFxKG4clIBMWdttM170wHE3yM%2FIChBmKC8unL1x%2BrW9N%2Fub9QEc8ltLUIq3rvQN8AOBHPZYX8A%3D%3D&amp;X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Date=20241021T213401Z&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Expires=300&amp;X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPUUPRWEZRIUPSYY%2F20241021%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Signature=1021ef908b230aa75cb64668700a9ac247e2301ab654cc87622c3e6185016a1c&amp;abstractId=4897069">recent paper</a> from Arizona State University professor Hendrik Bessembinder found that 51.6% of 29,078 US stocks since 1925 have lost value from when they were listed. The median return of those stocks was -7.4%.If you're an investor who likes to keep your money in individual stocks instead of an index fund, those might be scary statistics. But there are a few steps you can take to mitigate risk, according to RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist Lance Roberts, who discussed the paper in a recent note.To start — it's advice you hear time and again — make sure your money is diversified enough.Diversification comes in many forms. In addition to putting money into stocks, perhaps consider investing in bonds and real estate, Roberts said. You could also consider spreading your money across a number of different industries and sectors, instead of having your whole portfolio in, say, a few tech stocks. A simple way of doing that could also be putting money into an index fund.You can also set up stop-loss orders. This can be done in a brokerage account, and your position is sold if a share price falls to a certain point. There's also the trailing stop-loss order, Roberts said, which adjusts based on upward movements in a stock's price. So a 5% stop-loss limit, for example, moves up to correspond to a level 5% below a stock's rising price, but will never dip below the original stop-loss limit."This safeguard ensures that you are not solely reliant on timing the market, which, as we all know, is nearly impossible to do consistently," Roberts said.And third, take profits on gains. With Nvidia and other AI stocks delivering ungodly returns over the last couple of years, this piece of advice might be good for investors in those firms to hear. It can be tempting to stay fully in a stock that has treated you well. But doing so may also melt away the wealth you've built if the stock has a sudden turnaround, Roberts said."This is not an uncommon issue that I always see with clients and prospects," Roberts wrote. "Greed comes in three destructive forms: 1) the need to make more, 2) the lack of knowing when "enough is enough," and 3) the unwillingness to pay taxes."He suggested a strategy resembling something like taking half of your gains and buying safer assets like Treasurys, and said to keep in mind that paying taxes on capital gains can be cheaper than suffering losses."As investors, it's crucial to understand that market gains are never guaranteed and that the risks of overexposure can be devastating," Roberts said. If you're "riding the wave of massive market gains, ask yourself: Is now the time to take some chips off the table? Are your investments aligned with your long-term goals and risk tolerance?"

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You Searched For "value buying" and got 12 results

Microstrategy is raising $42 billion — almost its entire market value — to buy more bitcoin

Matthew Fox

Muskmelon: A refreshing fruit with culinary delights and health benefits

BI India Bureau

Bananas: a versatile fruit for culinary creations and nutritional benefits

BI India Bureau

Advertisers are scrutinizing the value of AI tools as some early efforts fall flat

Lucia Moses,Lara O&apos;Reilly

How tax-deferred investing can increase a portfolio's value by 23% and the account that provides a triple benefit

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Domino's CEO slams the summer of value meals

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I sell multi-million dollar homes to London's super-successful. The internet has meant buyers have become much younger.

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Designer bags are expensive. So some people are buying luxe hand soap instead.

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A new study shows most stocks have lost value in the last 100 years. Take these 3 steps to protect your portfolio.

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