| Affluential Magazine

Vision to dramatically increase passenger rail in metro Atlanta

Sometimes an idea is so grand it takes one’s breath away. That’s the Grand Plan — creating a rail bypass around metro Atlanta to free up hundreds of miles of track that could be used for passenger trains. Compare this idea to I-285, which became a conduit for trucks to bypass the central city. We […]

What political money can and can’t still buy

Many people think there’s too much money in politics, but for the few who actually spend that money, there are more pressing problems. Money remains critical to success in politics, and yet it’s just not buying what it has in the past. The hitmakers of American politics are running out of fresh ideas on which […]

World Markets Watchlist: August 24, 2026

Our global markets watchlist tracks nine prominent indexes from economies around the world. The list includes the S&P 500 from the United States, TSX from Canada, the FTSE 100 from England, the DAXK from Germany, the CAC 40 from France, the Nikkei 225 from Japan, the Shanghai from China, the Hang Seng from Hong Kong, […]

Zillow and Redfin settle FTC antitrust case

Zillow and Redfin reached a settlement with the FTC, which requires Redfin to reenter the rental advertising business.

Trump bought SpaceX shares two weeks after blockbuster IPO

The president bought when the stock was in the mid-$150 range. SpaceX finished trading on Monday back at its IPO price of $135.

Megan Thee Stallion Partners With Interscope For Global Distribution Deal

Megan Thee Stallion is taking her independent empire to a bigger stage. The three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, entrepreneur, and philanthropist announced a new distribution partnership between her independent company, Hot Girl Productions, and Interscope Records. The agreement will provide global distribution and strategic support for her upcoming releases, allowing her to retain complete ownership of […]

CDC names permanent director after nearly a year of vacancy. What’s next for the agency?

One of the world’s foremost public health institutions finally has a Senate-confirmed, permanent director, nearly a year after its previous director was ousted just 27 days into the job. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now being led by Erica Schwartz, MD, MPH, JD. She is a former United States Deputy […]

Washington wildfires continue to destroy homes as Atlanta-based CARE brings emergency aid

For families forced from their homes by Washington’s wildfires, help can come in the form of something as basic as diapers, hygiene supplies or infant care items. CARE, the Atlanta-based humanitarian organization behind the CARE PACKAGE, is supporting local organizations in the Spokane area as Washington faces one of its most severe fire seasons in […]

Not to his liking

The pendulum of opinion swings freely when it comes to the question of form following function. It isn’t necessary to get into that debate here. I bring it up only to offer that, sometimes, it doesn’t matter where one stands on the question…form then function or function then form. Often, it’s the person paying the […]

Ralph Stokes honored with NABJ’s Sam Lacy Pioneer Award in Atlanta

Atlanta was the backdrop as Ralph Stokes was recognized for a career built around breaking barriers in sports and then helping open doors for the people coming behind him. The National Association of Black Journalists honored Stokes, vice president of Social Impact Partnerships and Community Relations at PGA TOUR Superstore, with the Sam Lacy Pioneer […]

State Street ETF Turns Tech Volatility Into Income

A wave of anxiety over AI infrastructure spending pushed technology stocks into a stretch of volatility in late 2025 and early 2026. One exchange-traded fund converted that turbulence into cash instead of losses. Key Takeaways: XLKI fell just 3.8% during a tech selloff that dragged the sector down 13.3%. The fund’s options strategy pushed its […]