CBX Daily 1/16/2025

Author

Cynthia Anaba
January 16, 2026

In partnership with

Today, parents are starting college savings earlier than ever… But let's start with Citigroup dropping diversity targets to focus on skills-based hiring.

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Skills-Based Hiring Is The New Frontier In Corporate Recruitment

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Citigroup is making a major change to its hiring strategy, scrapping its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in favor of a skills-based recruitment model. The move aims to broaden the company’s talent pool by emphasizing candidates' competencies over traditional diversity metrics. A recent survey found that more than 80% of companies have adopted skills-based hiring practices, a significant increase from previous years.

Payroll errors cost more than you think

While many businesses are solving problems at lightspeed, their payroll systems seem to stay stuck in the past. Deel's free Payroll Toolkit shows you what's actually changing in payroll this year, which problems hit first, and how to fix them before they cost you. Because new compliance rules, AI automation, and multi-country remote teams are all colliding at once.

Check out the free Deel Payroll Toolkit today and get a step-by-step roadmap to modernize operations, reduce manual work, and build a payroll strategy that scales with confidence.

Why Middle-Class Families Are Doubling Down on 529 College Savings

Most parents begin saving for college before their child is 10 years old and this could be a future key to closing the racial wealth gap. Only 16% of African American parents are saving for college using a 529 plan, which is like a prepaid tuition program, according to Northwestern Mutual. Even though parents are saving more for college now than ever before, their preparedness could still use improvement, and a solid 529 plan could put their children on the path to success.

Is the Wine Industry Ready for a Health-First Generation?

Vineyards are overflowing, yet the glasses remain half-empty. Still reeling from the pandemic's impact, the wine industry now grapples with an excess supply, putting massive pressure on both grape farmers and small business owners. Between 2017 and 2023, wine consumption has plummeted by 10.5%, specifically among younger generations who are increasingly favoring healthier and more affordable beverages over traditional wines.

College Costs Keep Climbing as Student Stress Hits New Highs

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.  

Join us and Lil Uzi Vert in having a very “Regular” kind of weekend as we kick back and dip into our CBX Vibes!