CBX Daily 1/22/2026

Author

Abdul Karim
January 22, 2026

Today, access isn’t enough as mobile, connected communities face rising cyber threats and need stronger digital protection… But let's start with wealth surging to the top, widening gaps and shaping opportunity in familiar ways.

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How AI and Stock Ownership Are Fueling a $52 Trillion Wealth Gap in America

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America’s wealth engine is accelerating, but it’s not lifting everyone equally. The top 1% now holds a record $52 trillion in wealth, powered by surging stock markets and AI-driven companies. While this signals economic strength at the top, it’s widening the gap for everyone else. For Black communities, this moment is deeply familiar. Wealth concentration is influencing how people spend, how businesses grow, and how success itself is defined in a system where access to assets, not effort alone, often determines outcomes.

But what can you actually DO about the proclaimed ‘AI bubble’? Billionaires know an alternative…

Sure, if you held your stocks since the dotcom bubble, you would’ve been up—eventually. But three years after the dot-com bust the S&P 500 was still far down from its peak. So, how else can you invest when almost every market is tied to stocks?

Lo and behold, billionaires have an alternative way to diversify: allocate to a physical asset class that outpaced the S&P by 15% from 1995 to 2025, with almost no correlation to equities. It’s part of a massive global market, long leveraged by the ultra-wealthy (Bezos, Gates, Rockefellers etc).

Contemporary and post-war art.

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Hacked Out: The Digital Security Crisis Facing Diverse Communities.

We talk a lot about access when it comes to technology, perhaps not enough about protection. As inclusive communities grow increasingly mobile and digitally connected, they’re also becoming prime targets for cybercrime. From phishing scams to data leaks, these internet users are disproportionately vulnerable and tech companies could be doing more to secure their digital safety.

What America Needs To Know About Tariffs & Economic Uncertainty

Tariffs aren't just a headline in the news, they are directly impacting our wallets, communities, and futures. As the U.S. embraces protectionist policies, the economic ripple effect touches every corner of our lives, from the cost of daily necessities to job security. The Trump administration's recent flirtation with increased tariffs has economists shaking their heads. Tariffs could knock at least 0.8% off U.S. GDP growth. That's more than just economic jargon it translates into fewer job opportunities, higher costs, and a weakened position in the global marketplace. America's competitive edge isn't just about prestige, it's about stability for families trying to thrive.

Skills-Based Hiring Is The New Frontier In Corporate Recruitment

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.

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.

Don’t have folks looking at you “Sideways” today, just relax with our CBX Vibes and new artist Girlfriend!