A new year is the perfect time to reflect on your financial habits and make small changes that can have a big impact. 

For over a decade, I’ve worked with clients navigating life transitions, like divorce and retirement, to help them forge their new financial paths. In my experience, there are six money personalities that represent the ways that people’s money beliefs and attitudes play out in daily life.

Here’s my best money advice for each personality going into 2026: 

The Giver has a heart of gold and a generous spirit. Whether helping a friend in need, contributing to a worthy cause, or lending a hand to a stranger down on their luck, the Giver is always there. But this can lead to overspending, neglected personal financial needs, and even feelings of resentment.

My best money advice for 2026

For the Giver, the key is finding balance. With thoughtful planning and increased awareness of when to say no, you can continue to support others without jeopardizing your financial situation. 

When you find yourself in a pinch, remember that there are many ways to fill others’ cups — as well as your own — that don’t cost a dime. In fact, often your time and talents can make an even greater impact than your treasures.

Trailblazers don’t follow the herd — they lead it. They exude confidence and embrace thoughtful risks. They are driven, focused, and relentless in their pursuit of success. But here’s the twist: Their fierce independence can lead to burnout and a reluctance to ask for help.

My best money advice for 2026

While a Trailblazer may excel at creating wealth, managing it requires a much different skill set. It’s important to learn how to delegate. By recognizing your limitations and leveraging the expertise of others, you can maximize the potential of your hard-earned money. This will ultimately reduce stress and enhance your overall financial success — allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Money? Nah, that’s for the fat cats and money-grubbers. The Skeptic’s mistrust can stunt their financial progress. They often feel caught between believing they don’t deserve wealth and panicking at the thought of pursuing it. The result? They continue to repeat behaviors that leave them feeling financially insecure.

My best money advice for 2026

Writing down all your positive qualities can help you see that your worth isn’t tied to your bank account. Surround yourself with people who are financially successful — as well as kind and generous — to help reshape your views on money. Witnessing how wealth can be used for good might help dismantle the assumption that it inherently breeds greed.

High Rollers live for the moment! Fancy things light them up. Saving for the future? Not so much. Their emotions can lead to impulsive purchases, and they can easily lose track of spending — which may result in a pile of debt. This constant pursuit of pleasure can cause the High Roller to feel empty inside. 

My best money advice for 2026

Exploring how you cope with emotions, like boredom or anxiety, can help reduce impulse purchases. Budgeting apps or spending trackers, along with thoughtful discussions about the relationship between self-worth and material things, can help build self-awareness around spending habits. Transitioning to a cash-only system can also be a powerful tool for you — limiting your ability to rely on credit cards when you’re tempted to splurge.

The Penny Pincher is a perpetual saver, regardless of how much they have in the bank. They are disciplined and resourceful when it comes to spending (which is a good thing!) and often feel guilty after making a purchase — even when it’s a necessity. Typically, they are debt- and risk-averse and fear losing it all, which can cause them to miss out on opportunities to effectively grow their wealth or benefit from valuable experiences.

My best money advice for 2026

Learning the basics of investing can empower the Penny Pincher to take calculated risks. Setting specific spending goals — like taking a dream vacation or planning fun nights out with friends — can help you shift your focus from what you might lose to what your money can help you gain and experience. This approach can build confidence and create a more balanced perspective.

The Avoider would rather not think about money, let alone talk about it. They typically have no idea where they stand financially. And frankly, most don’t know where to start. But the more they avoid their situation, the more anxious they become.

My best money advice for 2026

Even the smallest actions can spark change. Dedicating just 10 minutes each week to reviewing your account balances, exploring your spending, or asking for help can empower you to confront your financial situation with less stress. Additionally, seeking resources like online articles, podcasts, or financial literacy classes can help you take actionable steps to improve your financial well-being.

These aren’t meant to be reductive labels but rather lenses that build awareness of your current habits. Remember:

• These aren’t rigid categories. Your behavior with money can change over time as life experiences shape new financial habits.
• Growth is always possible. Recognizing your tendencies empowers you to make intentional shifts and cultivate healthier behaviors.
• Identifying with multiple types is typical. It’s common to exhibit traits from more than one personality type.

And of course, you may want to seek personalized financial advice that’s tailored to your specific needs.

Steph Wagner is a nationally recognized thought leader in women’s wealth and financial empowerment who serves as the National Director of Women & Wealth at Northern Trust. She is the author of ”Fly! A Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom and Building a Life You Love.” Learn more at stephlwagner.com.

Want to give your kids the ultimate advantage? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course, How to Raise Financially Smart Kids. Learn how to build healthy financial habits today to set your children up for greater success in the future.

Excerpt adapted from ”Fly! A Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom and Building a Life You Love″ by Steph Wagner. Copyright © 2025. Reprinted with permission of Matt Holt Books. All rights reserved.

If you want to live longer and feel better, stop chasing food fads.

Every few months, a new “miracle” plan — keto, intermittent fasting, carnivore, raw — promises to fix everything. Most don’t. Even those that show modest benefits rarely deliver results worth the time, effort, and mental energy they demand.

As an Harvard-trained oncologist and world leader in health policy, I’ve spent decades researching what actually improves health outcomes. The answer to a longer life is so simple: Good nutrition is about building about habits you can sustain for years, not weeks.

While you should consult your physician before changing your diet, as individual needs vary, here are six nutrition myths I wish more people would let go of.

The average adult consumes nearly 500 calories a day from snacks, much of it from ultra-processed foods like chips, cookies and packaged desserts. These foods are engineered to encourage overeating.

In one study, participants eating ultra-processed foods consumed more calories and gained two pounds in just two weeks compared with those eating whole foods, even when calories were matched. These foods are also linked to higher all-cause mortality.

Not all snacks are harmful. Research shows that healthy snacks can improve overall diet quality. Nuts, fruit, yogurt, hummus and vegetables provide fiber, protein and healthy fats that promote fullness without blood sugar spikes.

Most Americans already consume enough protein. Recommended intake is roughly 0.75 to 1.0 grams per kilogram of body weight per day (about 45 to 70 grams for most women and 55 to 90 grams for most men).

Protein powders aren’t a solution either. In one analysis, two-thirds of tested protein powders contained unsafe levels of lead. There are exceptions:

• Adults over 60, who lose muscle mass with age, may benefit from about 1.2 g/kg
• Athletes or people recovering from illness may need up to 1.5 g/kg

For everyone else, whole-food sources (beans, lentils, yogurt, fish) are safer and more beneficial than supplements or excessive red meat.

Only about 7% of American adults meet recommended fiber intake, and that’s a serious problem.

High-fiber diets are linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer, reduced rates of Type 2 diabetes, and a 31% lower risk of death from coronary heart disease.

But fiber supplements aren’t a perfect shortcut. Most contain just one type of fiber and don’t replicate the complex, diverse fibers found in whole foods. Only a small fraction show meaningful clinical benefits.

Fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains remain the most effective way to support gut health.

Dairy consumption is associated with lower risk of Type 2 diabetes and improved growth in children — regardless of fat content.

The idea that higher-fat dairy causes weight gain isn’t supported by evidence. In fact, studies show children who consume whole-fat dairy have lower odds of overweight and obesity than those consuming low-fat versions. Adults show similar trends.

Fat content alone doesn’t determine health. Whole-fat dairy can fit into a balanced diet, especially when it replaces ultra-processed “low-fat” alternatives.

Choose the version you enjoy and can sustain.

For decades, Americans were told fat makes you fat. This has been proven wrong. Yet as dietary fat intake declined, obesity and diabetes rates surged.

Healthy fats are essential. Many calorie-dense foods — nuts, olive oil, full-fat dairy, even dark chocolate — are associated with less weight gain than processed grains and sugary snacks.

Liquid plant oils, especially extra-virgin olive oil, have strong evidence behind them. Even half a tablespoon per day has been associated with a 19% lower risk of death over nearly 30 years.

Fat isn’t the enemy. It’s the ultra-processed, low-fiber, high-sugar foods that drive weight gain and metabolic disease.

Many people believe an extra workout can cancel out unhealthy eating. Unfortunately, you can’t. There’s more than a grain of truth to the saying, “you are what you eat.”

A recent study found that humans burn roughly the same number of calories per day regardless of activity level. Exercise improves health, but it doesn’t provide the calorie “bonus” people expect. What and how much you eat is what moves the needle on weight.

That said, exercise is still essential. It improves sleep, mood, cognition, bone density and social connection. Walking, especially with other people, is one of the most effective and accessible forms.

Good nutrition is simply about designing a life where healthy choices are ones that are easy and that you stick to for years: whole foods like fruits, nuts, and vegetables, modest portions and meals shared with people you like.

Skip the detoxes. Keep the olive oil. And yes, sometimes eat your ice cream. 

Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel is an oncologist, Vice Provost and Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of “Eat Your Ice Cream: 6 Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.” Previously, he was chair of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Emanuel received his MD from Harvard Medical School.

Want to give your kids the ultimate advantage? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course, How to Raise Financially Smart Kids. Learn how to build healthy financial habits today to set your children up for greater success in the future.

AI-powered tools are changing how people work by boosting productivity, streamlining tasks and accelerating career growth.

In our latest course, Beyond the Basics: How to Use AI to Supercharge Your Work, you’ll learn step by step how to craft effective prompts and use AI to handle daily tasks and automate workflows. By integrating these AI systems into the workplace, you’ll become more productive, efficient and proficient in your field.

This course is designed for individual contributors who want to advance at work, leaders looking to understand how AI can benefit their team, business owners aiming to maximize their workday, and job-seekers who need to upskill to remain competitive in the hiring landscape. Led by three seasoned experts, the course guides you from prompting to task automation and beyond.

Whether you’re hoping to write better, quickly prepare presentations, or conduct comprehensive research, this course will help you master the in-demand AI skills needed to succeed at work. We’ll share actionable tips for analyzing data, resolving conflict and brainstorming so you can level up your AI use at work.

Our experts’ practical strategies will help you build advanced AI habits that stand the test of technological advancements, from mindset shifts to practical advice for avoiding the potential pitfalls of AI use.

What you’ll get: 

• Over 90 minutes of instructional video content, broken into digestible lessons 
• A workbook with additional exercises and examples 
• Instant access to watch and read at your own pace 

This course can help you: 

• Learn to complete work tasks with AI, such as writing, preparing presentations and analyzing data 
• Understand advanced AI tools and concepts so you can prompt like a pro, build custom GPTs, use AI agents and automate your workflows
• Discover how to use AI to accomplish more in less time, resolve conflict and move along your career journey

Meet the experts:

Denise Turley is a leading AI advisor and educator who helps organizations and individuals adopt and scale artificial intelligence with clarity and confidence. Her experience spans Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions and individual professionals, giving her a unique perspective on how AI can unlock opportunity across industries. Recognized for translating complex technology into strategic, actionable insight, she champions the development of future-ready skills and the creation of collaborative learning environments that turn potential into measurable impact.

Jordan Wilson is the founder and host of Everyday AI, a top-20 tech podcast and AI strategy company. With millions of yearly downloads, Jordan is a trusted voice for Fortune 500 execs, startup leaders and everyday professionals navigating the AI shift. Beyond the daily livestream, podcast and newsletter, Jordan builds and advises high-impact AI systems across media, fintech and enterprise sectors. He is also a professor of AI at DePaul University in Chicago, keynote speaker and AI advisor.

Minerva Tantoco is an award-winning technology executive and AI strategist with four U.S. patents in intelligent workflow systems. After serving as New York City’s first chief technology officer, she co-founded Grasshopper Bank and served as chief AI officer at the NYU McSilver Institute. She currently serves as interim CEO of the New York Hall of Science, is an adjunct professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and an advisor to leading tech firms.

Sign up today for Beyond the Basics: How to Use AI to Supercharge Your Work, and use the coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 25% off the regular course price of $127 (plus tax). Offer valid from Jan. 5, 2026 through Jan. 19, 2026. Terms apply.

Certain people seem so effortlessly influential, they make you wonder if they were born with some magical quality. 

But after researching human behavior for 15 years, I have good news. Influence is a set of learnable actions, not a fixed personality trait. 

In my book, “Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge,” I break down how to build authority at work based on my experience advising thousands of top performers at companies like Google, Amazon, and JPMorgan. 

There are things you can do to be taken more seriously, get your ideas approved, and become someone leadership seeks out — even if you’re introverted, still working your way up the ladder, or new to your industry. 

Here are five of the most powerful behaviors you can start using right now — based on five different types of power — without turning into a manipulative jerk. 

When a meeting goes in circles, influential people step in and say, “We’ve covered the options. It seems like we’re leaning toward X, so we’ll get started on that. Sound good?” 

This is role power in action, using your authority to make decisions within your domain. Most people shy away from role power because they don’t want to appear controlling. But when everything is a committee decision, it creates more confusion. 

Try this: The next time someone raises an issue, don’t let it bounce around like a hot potato. Take charge and assign ownership, “I’ll coordinate with legal. Gerald, can you drive the marketing piece?” 

Influential people don’t hoard credit. They spread appreciation around early and often. 

This builds reward power, or your ability to give people something they want. When you make others feel seen, they go out of their way to help you succeed.

Try this: Each week, shout out a team member via email or team chat, or during a meeting. Don’t just say “the team did a good job,” personalize your praise and be specific. For example, “Pooja’s idea saved us 10 hours of developer time!” or, “Big shout out to Rafael for his analysis, which flagged this risk.”

You can be the smartest person in the room. But your knowledge means nothing if no one seeks out your input or respects your opinion enough to act on it. 

That’s the difference between expertise and expert power. Expertise is measured by your skill level, whereas expert power is about whether people trust your insight.

Try this: Lead with “what if” and “I wonder” statements followed by your experience to avoid coming off as a know-it-all. For example, “What if we tried adjusting the price? I’ve seen that work with similar products in the past,” or, “I wonder whether we’ve accounted for processing time since that’s added a two-week delay before.”

Even the nicest people have to enforce limits. When someone misses deadlines or violates the rules, influential people address it calmly and directly by using coercive power. 

This ability to punish people is the form of power you want to use the least, but sometimes it’s necessary to uphold standards and keep the culture safe. 

You can use this even without formal authority, as long as you’re in a situation where you’re responsible for an outcome, like running a meeting or leading a particular project. Context matters, though. You can hold peers accountable for being disruptive, but you’ll need to tread more carefully with a superior.

Try this: Name the pattern, state the impact, and set an expectation. This can sound like, “I noticed you talked over Carol twice yesterday. When people get cut off, they stop speaking up. Going forward, please let people finish their thoughts before jumping in.” 

What if you could gain power just from being who you are? This is referent power, which comes from people wanting to be associated with you because of your character and values. 

Influential people don’t treat relationships transactionally. When you make people feel seen and valued, they’re more likely to trust you, support your ideas, and want to work with you. 

Try this: When someone shares something personal, make a reminder and follow up on it. It takes 30 seconds to ask “How was your daughter’s recital?” or “Did the kitchen renovation go well?” But it creates deep rapport. 

The best part is that these behaviors compound. The more you use them, the more natural they become, and the more influence you build without even trying. 

Melody Wilding, LMSW is an executive coach, human behavior professor, and author of ”Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge.” Get her free training, 5 Steps to Speak Like a Senior Leader, here. 

Want to give your kids the ultimate advantage? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course, How to Raise Financially Smart Kids. Learn how to build healthy financial habits today to set your children up for greater success in the future.

Karl Bushby was 29 when he left his home city of Hull, England and took off for the adventure of a lifetime. With $500 in his pocket and some survival gear, he went on a mission that no one else in history had ever completed: walking an unbroken path around the world.

Bushby’s journey, called the “Goliath Expedition,” began in 1998 in Punta Arenas, Chile, a city near the southern tip of South America. It’s brought him across continents including the Americas, Asia and Europe, and ultimately ends with the goal of arriving back in the United Kingdom.

“The objective was simply to get home unassisted by any form of transport,” Bushby told CNBC Make It.

Throughout the journey, Bushby has followed two rules: He can only walk or swim, unassisted by any form of transportation, and he cannot return home to Hull, England, until he arrives entirely on foot.

“These sounded like two simple rules from the early days, but you know, once those two rules meet the reality of the real world, things can get mighty complicated, especially [with] visas and difficult governments and regimes and some of the controversial borders that [I’ve] had to cross,” he said.

After walking about 30 kilometers a day, along with some unexpected setbacks, Bushby has now made his way into Europe and expects to complete his journey and return home to England next year, he told CNBC Make It.

Bushby has always been an adventurer. He says he used to go explore all day with his brother before returning home for dinner.

Growing up in a military family, he was inspired by his father who served in the British army. Bushby also joined the army at age 16 and served as a parachute regiment for about 12 years before taking off on his expedition.

At a certain point during his tenure in the British army, Bushby got bored.

“I spent my 12 years in the British army waiting to go somewhere we never really went, other than Northern Ireland,” he said. “We happened to be living through one of the most peaceful times in history,” he said.

“So we got bored and tired and became wondrous and mischievous,” he said. “At some point, I started drawing lines on maps and daydreaming about great distances and distant horizons, and one thing led to another.”

One day, Bushby drew a line from the United Kingdom over Europe and Asia, through Siberia, over the Bering Strait, into North America and through to the bottom of South America.

“Once I got that on a map, there was kind of no going back … The old hairs on the back of your neck stand up,” he said.

So, in 1998, Bushby left the British army to begin the long journey. He took a military flight from the United Kingdom to the Falkland Islands, then a civilian flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, which was the starting point of his expedition.

“That first day you step onto the road [is] a memorable one, because at that point, you’re a long way from home. You’ve burned all the bridges. You told everyone you’d rather die than come home,” said Bushby.

“You got like 500 U.S. dollars in your pocket, no support, no idea how it is going to work out, just absolute faith that you can somehow make it work. And you’re on a road that is about 36,000 miles long, with very little idea of what’s coming. I mean … you’re further than a man mission to Jupiter at that point,” he said.

Bushby’s journey over the last 27 years has brought him through many close encounters.

He has famously crossed the Darien Gap, been detained by Russian authorities, jailed in Panama, nearly frozen to death in Alaska and swam across the Caspian Sea over a 31-day-period.

On top of all of this, he’s gone days without food after walking for many miles, relied on strangers for medical help and ended many nights by himself in a tent he pitched on the side of the road.

“The psychology of hunger is interesting. It’s not something that most of us are really used to. When you have no idea where your next meal will come in, you just become obsessed with finding things to eat,” said Bushby.

“You’ll see food everywhere, every shadow, every rock, looks like something you can eat. You’ll end up running around, chasing hallucinations most of the time,” he said.

Despite all of the challenges he’s overcome, one of the biggest lessons he discovered throughout his journey didn’t have much to do with physical pain or endurance. Rather, it was about happiness and how it ultimately comes from your relationships.

“If you would ask me, what was the hardest thing you’ve done over the last 27 years – that is losing the women that you fall in love with hands down. That’s the toughest thing you will deal with… The physical stuff – pain is easy, suffering is different,” said Bushby.

On the other hand, he said: “The happiest of times was when I [was in] those relationships. When you’re with somebody.”

He’s also learned that people are generally very kind, across all cultures and regions in the world. Many times throughout his journey, he says he’s been taken in, fed and cared for by strangers who ask for nothing in return.

“You don’t even speak the same language, so it’s just about smiles and nods and then they send you on your way … It’s just one story after another, and it’s across every culture, across every country,” he said.

“This world is hell of a lot friendlier and nicer than it might appear.”

Want to give your kids the ultimate advantage? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course, How to Raise Financially Smart Kids. Learn how to build healthy financial habits today to set your children up for greater success in the future.