Mark Hamrick

04/26/2026

Each week in The Hamrick Brief, my new newsletter, we field a reader question about personal finances or the economy.

Let's try to put the "social" back into social media, with constructive and fair dialogue.

So, what's on your mind? It might make a future edition!

04/20/2026

Consumer sentiment just hit its lowest point in 75 years of recorded history. It wasn't during the financial crisis. Not during the pandemic. Now.

Let's call it the "vibepression".

At issue is why so many Americans feel economically left behind, even when the headline data suggests something else. We’ll also delve into why the conversations we avoid about money carry a real cost, and how we all can do a better job having constructive chats about personal finances.

All that and more is live now via The Hamrick Brief!

Where attitudes and behavior intersect -- and where they don't

04/06/2026

It's launch day for my new thing!

And what a time to launch a newsletter about the economy. 😅

The jobs report recently landed. Markets are lurching. Trade policy is rewriting the rules in real time. If you've been watching the headlines and thinking "what does any of this actually mean for me?" — that's exactly why I built The Hamrick Brief.

Every week, I'll connect the dots between the big economic data and the life you're actually living. Your job. Your mortgage. Your retirement account. Your grocery bill. The stuff that matters when the headlines move on.

This debut issue digs into the jobs numbers, the trade war that's reshaping the global economy, and a historical echo from decades ago that should make you think twice about what's really happening right now.

I've spent a lot of years covering this beat — Federal Reserve, Wall Street, Washington — and I can tell you: the story behind the story is almost always more interesting than the headline. That's what The Hamrick Brief is for.

Issue 1 is live now on LinkedIn and Substack. Link in the first comment.

I'd love to know what you think — and if this sounds like something a friend could use, a share goes a long way on launch day. 🙏

The March jobs report looks better than expected. But the economy you're actually living in is more complicated — and has a historical echo worth understanding.

03/30/2026

I want to hear from you.

What questions do you have about the economy or your personal finances? What are you trying to figure out — a home purchase, a job transition, or how to think about your savings in an uncertain market?

I'm launching a new newsletter, The Hamrick Brief, on LinkedIn, and your questions will help shape it. I'll answer selected questions in future issues — I'm happy to use first names only or keep it anonymous, just let me know.

Drop your question in the comments below. No reasonable question is too basic — if you're wondering about it, others are too. I'm here to help.

09/26/2025

Many Americans feel behind on retirement savings. Inflation, stagnant wages, and shifting expectations play roles. Recognizing it is step one. Taking action is step two. I discussed more on CBS News,

New Bankrate survey data shows some Americans are feeling behind on their retirement savings. Mark Hamrick breaks down the survey's data on "CBS News Mornings."

09/09/2025

Why is it so hard to find a job right now? My comments to ABC News.

Worker confidence in the ability to find a job has hit a record low.

06/25/2025

No matter where we are in our daily lives, we can use some support, added insight, or an expression of appreciation. Are we all getting too much of that in today's world? I think you know the answer.

I've always been a fan of quotations and have a number of books devoted to them. Here's one that I'm sharing today.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Pioneering American tennis champion Arthur Ashe

Context: Progress doesn’t require perfection, vast resources, or ideal circumstances. It calls us to take initiative — not later, not when everything feels perfect, but now. Ashe, a tennis champion and civil rights advocate, knew what it meant to face daunting odds. He showed us with his deeds and remarkable achievements stemming from the benefits of taking action, rather than falling prey to hesitation.

His life story is one of inspiration: Arthur Ashe rose from modest beginnings in segregated Richmond, Virginia, to become the first Black man to win the U.S. Open, Australian Open, and Wimbledon. While he didn't have elite facilities or privilege, he did possess focus, discipline, and the willingness to move forward from wherever he was.

Mark's takeaways:
• Start where you are: Acknowledge your current situation, without judgment. Waiting for the “right time” often leads to stagnation.
• Use what you have: Whether it’s a network, a skill, or just time and energy, leverage it. Resourcefulness can win out over resources.
• Do what you can: Action, however small, builds momentum. One step, one call, one paragraph can create the path ahead.

Please share any thoughts or insights that you have on what inspires you. And thank you for taking the time to soak in some positive energy! hashtag hashtag hashtag

05/14/2025

Bankrate asked homeowners if they had any regrets about their purchase. It turns out nearly half do have a regret of some kind.

Here's a situation where we can learn from the experiences of others, to prepare for the inevitable maintenance, repair, and perhaps renovation of the home.

The good news is that most say they would buy the home again if they were given the chance.

08/05/2024

Some stock market bulls are calling on the Federal Reserve to go into crisis mode and cut interest rates as soon as possible. But just last week, the Fed opted to leave rates unchanged. Since them, the stock market has been caught in a downdraft with some of the fiercest selling seen in a couple of years.
Here's my LinkedIn post on what's going on and what it might mean about the current situation with the economy and the outlook for interest rates.

05/12/2024

Economic data to watch this week includes key inflation gauges. Why is this important? Elevated prices have been weighing on the pocketbooks and minds of consumers. The future direction of interest rates (affecting borrowing, saving, and ultimately even investing) depends on how inflation unfolds in the months ahead.

04/05/2024

There's a lot to process in today's complicated and dynamic economy. At the same time, there have been several recent positive developments:
-The job market remains strong, continuing a historic streak with the unemployment rate below 4%.
-A much feared and often predicted recession has been avoided, for now.
-Inflation has cooled. The downside is that many prices remain elevated and buying power has been eroded compared to pre-pandemic times.
-The U.S. economy is outperforming global peers.
Here's more on the latest snapshot of the economy, now that we've seen the March jobs report.