CBX Daily 1/13/2025

Author

Earlene Greene
January 13, 2026

Today, young Black Americans are narrowing the investment gap by showing up in the markets and embracing risk to build wealth… But let's start with the heavy mental and financial toll student loan debt continues to place on borrowers.

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College Costs Keep Climbing as Student Stress Hits New Highs

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The financial weight of higher education is mentally draining Black Americans with student loan debt. A recent survey conducted by ELVTR, revealed that 54% of respondents said their mental health struggles are directly related to student loan debt. Nearly two-thirds of those polled can barely afford or can’t afford their loan payments at all, with minorities like Black borrowers facing the most debt.  The financial strain, emotional burden and mental distress of student loan debt begs the question, is it all worth it?

The Rise of High-Risk Investing in a Low-Trust Economy

Minority Americans have faced systematic exclusion from a number of American institutions including investment opportunities, though that could be changing. The investment gap between Black and white Americans has recently narrowed, with higher stock market participation among young Black people under 40. In an effort to take back power, interest in investing has grown as this demographic has developed a propensity to take on riskier investments.  

BBLs and Instagram Economics: How Social Media Fuels Medical Tourism

As the cost of healthcare care continues to rise in the U.S., medical tourism, a process of traveling to a different country for procedures is becoming increasingly popular. Pop culture stars like Kim Kardashian West and Nikki Minaj who receive major attention for their shapely physiques have become the modern-day apogee of plastic-surgery normalization. With cost savings of up to 90% for surgical or cosmetic procedures, the medical tourism market is expected to reach more than $200 billion globally by 2027.

As Millionaires Leave, Cities Face New Economic Reality

There's a global wealth migration looming with 0.24% of the total global millionaire population planning to relocate in 2025. A good number of these high-net worth individuals are looking at UAE and Singapore as potential locations. With the murky waters in countries facing political and financial instability, the migration is imminent but on the bright side, the number of millionaires is always on the rise as in 2024, there was a 5.1% increase in the number of millionaires.

Golden Years Turned Grim: The Retirement Reality For Women

For many women, retirement is no longer a reward, it’s a reckoning! As the retirement landscape continues to shift, a growing crisis is emerging—one that disproportionately affects women. Despite decades of participation in the workforce, women are retiring with just 70% of the savings their male counterparts. Consequently, women are 80% more likely to live in poverty during retirement. The harsh reality is that the golden years have turned grim – what should be a time of rest and comfort has become a struggle for financial survival.

Get into the latest feels with “Twin Flame” from Ari Lennox in our CBX Vibes!