SoFi Blog

Success in life is rarely about taking the easy road. Often, you have to step outside of your comfort zone, both personally and professionally, to achieve your dreams. True breakthroughs come by taking risks: asking your boss for a raise or promotion, or confronting dissatisfaction with a significant other.

In this installment of our Member Spotlight series, we profile Lauren Powell, an attorney from Madison, Wisconsin, and the $150,000 grand prize winner of our #WhyISoFi member contest. She beat out 1,500 other contestants, thanks to her personal entry and creative, relentless campaigning.

When you start a new job or need to select company insurance benefits during open enrollment, you’re given a menu of options, such as dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. While opting for life insurance is pretty much a no-brainer, assessing your needs and reading the fine print can be flat-out daunting.

It’s tough to focus on future needs when current bills and student loan payments loom. We get it. And it’s even tougher to think about the end of your life when you’re so focused on living it to the max. But making sure you not only have life insurance, but also have the right amount is part of adulting—a very important part, especially if you have or are considering a family.

The Trump theme discussed in our last commentary continues to drive markets. The promise of infrastructure spending and tax cuts have driven Treasury yields higher and strengthened the dollar almost relentlessly since the election three weeks ago.

So-called “animal spirits” and self-fulfilling expectations can often move markets. However, this rally has been accompanied by solid economic data that supports the narrative of faster growth and inflation. With the risks of a post-election panic diminished, we have reduced fixed income duration in our portfolios in order to avoid capital losses from rising real interest rates.