An Economy Built on Speculation—for Better and for Worse

America's Road to a DIY Retirement

Who should be responsible for an American retirement? For the early part of the nation's history, that was never a consideration. The fate of older Americans was on them. Then in the early 20th century, a host of movements ushered in company pensions and Social Security, helping to create the modern-day idea of retirement for many workers. But as pensions fade into 401(k)s and Social Security teeters, workers again find themselves bearing more responsibility and risk of financing their golden years.  This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy [https://www.wsj.com/usa250?mod=WSJ_WNPOD], a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved. Further Reading: The Struggle To Keep America’s Workers Safe [https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/whats-news/the-struggle-to-keep-americas-workers-safe/fd12699b-52d0-4742-a541-0d4761f87a62?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqe1r-L0-TQrzbJrP3YO4Sa6u7YuqmKBLSpfvJS6ubG-jOQpfq2qzVV5GJeV1hM%3D&gaa_ts=69a05d26&gaa_sig=AtxVyAtY57_Tn_UYq3swYweFfRfdQ8rVZbbDFClWkIBZZx1uu_3jaHVLPW6caBn10Z36WQpOonhaGs6QacJw8g%3D%3D] An Economy Built on Speculation [https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/whats-news/an-economy-built-on-speculationfor-better-and-for-worse/f854d9a6-0ef9-442d-b99f-71b8454ee30b] Americans Are Claiming Social Security Early, Fearful of Its Future [https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/social-security-benefits-early-trump-changes-27ecd4ee?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqc7Eie4apwm5Xhcim3Xplk0SbZExU65dtGOub7yEGu584IM7CeECg5wgxPbsvU%3D&gaa_ts=69a05d4c&gaa_sig=irgjfFR-YiRZppFuRzKNrLnYO-ovaZTb1OWAeKkihcZAXktB9od5Mkqh1CufBO-q5nNGHRprPNDTAonw9KCWkA%3D%3D] This New Investing Idea Isn’t Right for Your Retirement Plan [https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/this-new-investing-idea-isnt-right-for-your-retirement-plan-480582de?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqe2oQHpUHRmePcBf8eCMnZjVdBjku32k6AAZiaiVG292f4y5KEIUbENoYyOE4w%3D&gaa_ts=69a05d75&gaa_sig=WID5QRIUqzHzKnWAm1pjW5BG6Dm5aAKp-oFGeE2LIlu-CrRCc8wQFhTUkGx6NDrlZxP3q-MSPW7z6evR6rSuxQ%3D%3D] How to Keep This Hot Stock Market From Melting Your Retirement Dreams [https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/how-to-keep-this-hot-stock-market-from-melting-your-retirement-dreams-2cf28499?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfumHe0dpgzJZohzGLmwcmQDZMam36IeRiq-sfaJlsNTnedSuwgqBrS-fjapuA%3D&gaa_ts=69a05d75&gaa_sig=K1i4Y9TscXugFWh4OGYaedrgtQtRe4f2uWsjw-ZGTrRhF_tNf-lDQLAcfsta__3Arvi9qdCQ1mmVcAelxO1RhQ%3D%3D] Lloyd Blankfein Misses Being Goldman Sachs CEO—Mostly When There’s a Market Crisis [https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/lloyd-blankfein-goldman-sachs-memoir-ceo-b36c0542?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqc6hzXHUfCA3jXrHIraINCxywJ6DfK8DVJZv0UksU4LzwN5IpP45d7FpZImXjQ%3D&gaa_ts=699dfaa2&gaa_sig=cR2mLxJv9_jYlNz-lG2iZLId6nGO8A1OW9rszoxQZ_NXHPQLS9TR9J8SO6yzFxXNeIWZ34gXD-0tOSCBLHWfjA%3D%3D] Wall Street Is Pushing Private Assets Into 401(k)s. We Asked Whether Anyone Wants Them. [https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/401k-retirement-savings-private-assets-e445311e?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfqsna1igZ0_McyfCbokgjnYO-Bih4DU49ZuwGjSEeYLqEBEH_XBtLLK8MGeJ8%3D&gaa_ts=69a0501e&gaa_sig=XueDkenaD74313yBMo7839JEnuYBKgxVI8D7MHjyl6ZGIb7THrkmb9ol1IFTdxjm2fZrFtUVN1CH3gZY-ZhWkQ%3D%3D] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Struggle to Keep America’s Workers Safe

For over 100 years, keeping Americans safe on the job has challenged the country's free-market economy. Businesses often preferred to regulate their workplaces without government oversight. But that track record is mixed. And federal efforts at safeguarding job sites at times have fallen short. Host Katherine Sullivan explores how far we've come since Frances Perkins helped put employee safety in the spotlight and what American workers still face now when they go to work.  This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy [https://www.wsj.com/usa250?mod=WSJ_WNPOD], a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved. Additional reading and listening: A Timeline of Key Moments in the History of Work in America [https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/history-of-work-america-76a8ecbb?mod=hp_listc_pos2]  Coal Miners’ Trade Off: Trump Boosts Production but Slashes Safety Programs [https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/west-virginians-cheer-trumps-pro-coal-agenda-but-fret-over-safety-cuts-172d20b6?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdX0Q8LKpNRnDpKL7OE-_QrP6O81nOTku_Fq-gwc4rRVM3t44uwFn-AF_RwvyY%3D&gaa_ts=692f382e&gaa_sig=MiGLymz5niWHeNMa3dLajvHmj_uMIPA7oySxXB8QeyWV33pQEp6WEjMWUHBZb8JIcaCY4hcFUcbKb3a6uTo-3g%3D%3D]  An Economy Built on Speculation—for Better and for Worse [https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/whats-news/an-economy-built-on-speculationfor-better-and-for-worse/f854d9a6-0ef9-442d-b99f-71b8454ee30b]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

An Economy Built on Speculation—for Better and for Worse

From the land mania following the Revolutionary War to the AI craze now, speculation is in the American economy's DNA. These kinds of big bets have shaped our present and continue to fuel tomorrow's economic growth. Host Katherine Sullivan unpacks the past and future of American speculators. This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy [https://www.wsj.com/usa250?mod=WSJ_WNPOD], a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved. Further Reading: From Sports to AI, America Is Awash in Speculative Fever. Washington Is Egging It On. [https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/from-sports-to-ai-america-is-awash-in-speculative-fever-washington-is-egging-it-on-c1e5c814?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] Capitalism and Democracy Often Clash in America. They Usually End Up Better for It. [https://www.wsj.com/politics/united-states-america-democracy-capitalism-810514ca?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] Financial Bubbles Happen Less Often Than You Think [https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/market-bubble-history-f6b3487b?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

What’s News in Markets: CarMax Woes, Intel Soars, Tylenol Pressure

Why did CarMax’s earnings spook investors? And how has Intel stock gained 46% this month? Plus, what’s driving a sharp selloff in Kenvue shares? Host Jack Pitcher [https://www.wsj.com/news/author/jack-pitcher?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter [https://www.wsj.com/newsletters/markets-am?mod=WSJ_WNPOD]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Regulators Scale Back Obstacles for Boeing

P.M. Edition for Sept. 26. Six years after two deadly crashes of its 737 MAX jets, Boeing has regained authority [https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/faa-to-ease-restrictions-on-boeing-aircraft-deliveries-1a2e4389?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] from the Federal Aviation Administration to do some of its own safety checks. We hear from WSJ reporter Andrew Tangel [https://www.wsj.com/news/author/andrew-tangel?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] about what this means for the company. Plus, banks are racing to respond to regulators’ broad requests [https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/banks-ordered-to-dig-through-account-closures-to-find-debanking-cases-5531b993?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] for information on whether they closed customer accounts on political or religious grounds. WSJ banking reporter Gina Heeb [https://www.wsj.com/news/author/gina-heeb?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] discusses what regulators are asking for, and why now. And, as videogame maker Electronic Arts nears a roughly $50 billion deal to go private [https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/ea-private-deal-buyout-video-game-maker-808aefec?mod=WSJ_WNPOD], Journal reporter Miriam Gottfried [https://www.wsj.com/news/author/miriam-gottfried?mod=WSJ_WNPOD] says it’s not necessarily a sign that leveraged buyouts are back in vogue. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter [https://www.wsj.com/newsletters/whats-news?mod=WSJ_WNPOD]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]