Where to Invest $100,000 According to Experts
Investors face a dilemma. Headlines everywhere say tariffs and AI hype are distorting public markets.
Now, the S&P is trading at over 30x earnings—a level historically linked to crashes.
And the Fed is lowering rates, potentially adding fuel to the fire.
Bloomberg asked where experts would personally invest $100,000 for their September edition. One surprising answer? Art.
It’s what billionaires like Bezos, Gates, and the Rockefellers have used to diversify for decades.
Why?
Contemporary art prices have appreciated 11.2% annually on average
…And with one of the lowest correlations to stocks of any major asset class (Masterworks data, 1995-2024).
Ultra-high net worth collectors (>$50M) allocated 25% of their portfolios to art on average. (UBS, 2024)
Thanks to the world’s premiere art investing platform, now anyone can access works by legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso—without needing millions. Want in? Shares in new offerings can sell quickly but…
*Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.
Live: Weather Forecast? Black Friday Gloom
Black Friday is creeping up on us like that one classmate who suddenly becomes a lot more friendly two days before the final. The sales are coming people.
Or at least the illusion of them.
Gif by LegendaryEntertainment on Giphy, What a marvel it used to be.
Because here’s CAPITALISM'S BIGGEST DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: A ton of “deals” are just regular prices wearing a discount sticker and a cute winter coat (okay, maybe not the biggest secret).
Retailers mark items up in October so they can heroically mark them down in November.
So before you get seduced under the mistletoe by a flashing “60% OFF,” remember: if the price looks good but feels suspiciously familiar, it might be the same number you saw last month, in an ugly sweater.
Besides, $60 off a $300 gift doesn’t mean you made $60 shopping and therefore have extra money to spend.
Holiday budgeting is a treacherous game that has been stacked against you for decades. So you may want to...
Learn: How to Budget for the Holidays
Holiday budgeting gets a bad reputation because people imagine spreadsheets and deprivation of all things holly and jolly. But budgeting for this season is really just about being intentional before the chaos hits.
Here’s the simplest way to budget for the holidays without turning into Scrooge:
Start with your spending cap. Pick the total amount you’re willing to spend on gifts, travel, food, and festivities. This will keep you honest and focused so that your gift budget doesn't blow up.
Make a gift list before you shop. If you shop first and budget later, that’s not budgeting, that’s improv. Don't "yes-and" your wallet. She can't take it.
Assign mini-budgets per person or category. Your roommate does not need the same budget as your mom. Unless they do? I don’t know your life. But break the budget down accordingly.
Track as you go. A Notes app works. Google Sheets works. Your hand might work, but consider other options. The point is to see your spending before your credit card statement runs off like Dasher and Dancer.
Giphy, Your credit card statement during previous holiday seasons ^
Leave a buffer. Holiday surprises are inevitable. That's what makes them fun! Your cousin’s new partner shows up and now you need a gift for “a guy who likes craft beer and crypto.” Plan for the unexpected.
Budgeting isn’t about avoiding fun. It’s about maximizing it.
Leverage: ChatGPT Grinch Ahem–Gift Advisor
If holiday shopping feels more hectic than holly, you can outsource the hardest part: coming up with gift ideas that don’t feel generic or bank-account-ruining.
Enter your AI-powered gift advisor. Here's how to set it up:
Copy and paste this prompt into your preferred AI assistant:
"You are my budget-conscious gift advisor. I am shopping for [your favorite parent, etc.]. Their hobbies are [cliff-diving, etc.]. What are some thoughtful gift ideas I could get for them considering I have to get gifts for [x] people this year and my total budget is $200. Ask me any questions you need to ask in order to provide the perfect gift recommendations."
Once you prompt the AI with this, it may ask you a couple of key questions to make the results better, and then it’ll spit out a list of gift ideas that are thoughtful, personal, and within your spending limit.
If you want it to go full Grinch mode, ask it to prioritize budget-friendly gifts and present alternatives to really expensive ideas.
It's like a judgmental friend who loves you. In other words, a friend.
Pros:
Saves you from wandering store aisles like a lost soul.
Generates creative ideas you may not think of.
Keeps you anchored to your budget if you tell it to.
Cons:
Can’t stop you from ignoring your own budget.
May recommend DIY gifts, which require actual human effort. (Remember, it’s the thought that counts)
There are a lot of other tools that can be handy for the holidays. I'll be covering those in coming weeks.
Also, quick reminder that I am not sponsored by any of the tools I note here. I wish I was! These are just the tools I use.
Launch!
Open a notes app, a sticky note, whatever you’ve got, and write:
“I will not spend more than $____ this holiday season.”
This number can be based on what you've saved, what you make, or something else. All that matters is that you think ahead.
Giphy, Frosty would have been in a better spot if he thought ahead.
Pick your number. Commit to it. And then focus on the holidays.
Celebrate knowing you don't need to be scared come January. ;)
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—Ben Brosnahan
