Madison Troyer


Business & Personal Finance Writing

TheStreet •

Walmart fires OpenAI in playbook-changing move

As one of the world’s largest retailers, Walmart is hyperfocused on making it as easy for its customers to shop as possible.

From digital price labels that update in real time to one-hour pick-up and delivery windows to the third-party-friendly Walmart Marketplace, the company has worked hard to make getting what you need as effortless as possible.Which is why the news that Walmart was partnering with OpenAI came as no surprise to regular store-goers. 

“Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to...
TheStreet •

Walmart's new partner brings iconic brand to the retail giant

Since it opened its doors back in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop has been located exclusively in malls. Now, the retailer is spreading its wings, launching its highly anticipated “Bluey” collection in Walmart.In 2025, “Bluey” was the most-streamed title in the U.S. with 45.2 billion minutes of watch time, according to Nielsen. The children’s show only has 154 episodes, most of which are less than 10 minutes long, but its authentic, heartwarming depiction of family life has earned it a massive audie...
TheStreet •

Kohl’s struggles to remain relevant as discount retailers gain foothold

Since it opened its first location in 1962, Kohl’s has been one of the country’s leading department stores.

But over the past few years, as discount retailers including Ross Dress for Less, TJMaxx, and Burlington gain a larger foothold, the Midwest-based chain has started to slip. As consumers become more price-conscious, they’re increasingly turning to chains with a better value proposition.

According to data from Placer.ai, in 2025, some 62.9% of shoppers visited off-price retailers, while...
TheStreet •

Kroger customers get deliciously good news

Tight-on-time Kroger shoppers got some good news this week, when the 143-year-old grocery retailer announced new additions to its Private Selection brand.

More than 20 new convenience meals, including frozen entrees, refrigerated deli items, and freshly-roasted chicken, will be hitting shelves at Kroger stores across the country this month, the company said in a statement on March 2. The new offerings will “deliver the bold flavor of restaurant classics without the restaurant prices.”
“The new...
TheStreet •

Dave Ramsey delivers stern message about Trump Accounts

Dave Ramsey is not a fan of Trump Accounts.

On a recent episode of “The Ramsey Show,” the personal finance expert told a caller he wouldn’t recommend opening one. “I would not be doing any of this,” he said in a video clip of the exchange posted to Instagram.

“I’m a fan of some of the things the President is doing. I’m not a fan of some of the things the President is doing, and I think this is a political stunt,” he continued. “You’ve got other ways to save.”
While Trump Accounts won’t offic...
Benzinga •

Sports Betting Is 'Changing The Narrative Of The Game,' Says Former NBA Star Carmelo Anthony As He Calls For Changes

NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony is no fan of sports betting. In an interview with CNBC, he spoke out about the pressure gambling puts on players and called for reforms to be made."Athletes may say, ‘Hey, we don't care about parlays,' but they care about it, because it affects them mentally," Anthony said. "They don't want to come to a game and be worrying about their own fans cheering them or booing them because they didn't make the parlay… [Sports betting] changes the narrative of the game."D...
Benzinga •

Ready For Something New? These Are The 10 Best Jobs For Those Over 55, Report Says

Just over half of Americans who have reached the retirement age plan to continue working indefinitely, a survey by Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax found. This decision is driven by a number of factors, including financial necessity, a desire to remain active, and the certainty that they haven't yet accomplished what they set out to. However, intending to remain in the workforce and having the ability to actually remain in the workforce aren't always the same thing. Many older Americans find them...
Benzinga •

Viral Labubu Doll Craze Just Made the Pop Mart Founder $27.5 Billion Richer — A Bigger Gain Than Buffett, Bezos, and Nearly Every Billionaire Alive - eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY)

Earlier this summer, a Vans Labubu collaboration sold for 16,000 Australian dollars  ($10,400) on eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY). The seven-inch brown doll was decked out in classic Vans streetwear designs, including the company's iconic Sk8-Mid sneakers. It wasn't the first time one of these collectible plush toys had sold for five figures, and, given how trendy they've been over the last year, it likely won't be the last.For the Chinese toy company Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning, the doll's popularity has skyrock...
Benzinga •

'Money Is More Than Money,' Married Financial Advisors Offer Their Best Advice For Discussing Money With Your Partner

For many couples, money is a touchy subject that's best avoided. However, financial advisors Heather and Douglas Boneparth told CNBC that having those conversations can make partners even closer because of how central our finances are to our lives and emotional well-being."Money is more than money," Heather said. "Some of the emotions we tie to money include love, safety, independence, trust, control — and that's true for people from any socioeconomic background."The Boneparths met during their...
Benzinga •

The 529 Plan Blind Spot: Why Millions Of Parents Are Missing Out On Tax-Free College Savings

It's no secret that raising kids is a major financial commitment. Among the more common financial concerns parents have is the ability to help fund a child's education. The cost of higher education has skyrocketed over the last two decades, leaving many feeling unable to predict how much they need to put away to make a dent in the total. Knowing how to save for that cost is also a concern for many.A new study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma found that 66% of parents...
Benzinga •

We Share A 'Collective Delusion' That Overworking And Being Successful Are Positively Correlated. Says Arianna Huffington. It's Time To Slow Down.

Arianna Huffington launched her namesake The Huffington Post news website back in 2005. Two years later, she collapsed in her office from exhaustion and sleep deprivation, hitting her head and breaking bones in her face. Now, nearly 20 years out from her accident, Huffington has some thoughts about America's culture of overworking, which she shared with CNBC host Julia Boorstin on the network's "Changemakers and Power Players" podcast."We are all suffering under this collective delusion that in...
Benzinga •

The New Friendship Bracelet? Experts Weigh In On The Trend Of Opening A Bank Account With Your Bestie

Last year, Texas resident Madison Machen was on a flight to New York when she received some unexpected advice from her seatmate– open a joint bank account with her best friend that could be used to fund their hang outs and travels."I loved the concept so much, I went home and I called my best friend and I was like, I think we need to do this," Machen told CNBC.Six months later, Machen and her bestie had saved more than $1,000 in their shared Cash App account. The pair is one of a handful of duos...
Stacker •

50 small towns that are home to big businesses

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has challenged many aspects of life that have long been taken for granted, like the ability to socialize in public, watch a movie in a theater, or shop at a small business. When lockdown measures went into place earlier this year, many small businesses were forced to close their doors, and few were able to reopen.

The disappearance of many of these locally owned companies has led thousands of shoppers and diners to recommit to the "shop local" trend, in hopes t...
Benzinga •

'Accelerating Your Relationship Timetable Is Risky,' Experts Advise Caution As 23% Of Singles Say They'd Cohabitate To Save Money

As the cost of living continues to rise, Americans are finding inventive ways to save money on rent and other necessities. Case in point: 23% of singles say they would consider moving in with a partner quickly in order to save money, according to a new study from DatingNews.com and the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. However, experts say early cohabitation may not be the wisest move."Historically, the duration between meeting someone and moving in or getting married used to be a lot shor...
Benzinga •

Credit Scores Tumble For The Second Year In A Row, As Americans Struggle To Stay Afloat - Fair Isaac (NYSE:FICO)

The national average FICO score has dropped to 715, a new report from decision managment company Fair Issac Corporation (NYSE: FICO) says. This is down two points from 2024, and marks the second year in a row that credit scores have declined.Amy Crew Cutts, president of economics and policy consulting firm AC Cutts & Associates LLC, says that the drop can be tied to the pandemic."Since the start of 2020, the US consumer has been on a wild ride economically… Windfall payments landed in consumer b...
Stacker •

Public colleges with the best return on investment

As of January 2026, student loan debt totals more than $1.832 trillion in the U.S. According to the Education Data Initiative, about 42.5 million adults across America have outstanding student loan debt, averaging about $39,075 per person. Those astronomical numbers have caused some to wonder if college is a sound investment.

Researchers from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity say it is—in many cases, anyway. A May 2024 report found that higher education credentials, including bac...
Newsweek •

Bitcoin and the World of Cryptocurrencies, Explained

Three hundred thirty-one years ago, the first piece of paper money was printed in the United States. The Massachusetts Bay Colony supposedly issued those first bills to fund military action in King William's War. Flash forward to today, and those bills are as ubiquitous as the British pound or Chinese renminbi. In recent years, however, there have also been talks that those bills may be replaced with a newer form of money altogether: cryptocurrency.What is cryptocurrency? Is it really likely to...
Benzinga •

Making Things 5% Better: Friend CEO Avi Schiffmann On The Value Of His Wearable AI Device

The Friend pendant, a wearable AI device designed to be a companion for users, has garnered some particularly harsh feedback this year. The company's CEO says he's not fazed by the response."I think everyone deserves to have a close confidant in their lives that really supports what they're up to," Friend CEO Avi Schiffmann told CNN. "I really wanted to bottle up the best relationships I've had in my life."Don't Miss:When activated, the Friend device listens to users' surroundings and conversati...
Benzinga •

Scrimp, Splurge, Save: Gen Z's Selective Shopping Habits Are Shaking Up Retail - Cava Group (NYSE:CAVA), Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG)

Gen Z has proven to be an enigma for retailers when it comes to their shopping habits. They scrimp, save, and splurge in areas that aren't easily predictable, but are perhaps best described as being in pursuit of affordable affluence, according to PwC.Case in point: several fast casual restaurants, typically popular with younger consumers, have seen a decline in Gen Z visits, while designer brands have seen an uptick in interest among the cohort. Don't Miss:"The younger cohort, that 25 to 35… th...
Stacker •

Best value colleges in every state

When it comes to higher education, definitions of what constitutes a valuable collegiate experience and reasons for enrolling are as varied as the people providing the answers. For some, it's tied to affordability and measured in terms of how many scholarships and grants are available to offset the overall cost. For others, value is measured by the quality of the education and is determined by factors such as class sizes, faculty qualifications, and access to research opportunities. While others...
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