Author name: Steve Burns

After a lifelong fascination with financial markets, Steve began investing in 1993 and trading his accounts in 1995. It was love at first trade. After more than 30 successful years in the markets, Steve now dedicates his time to helping traders improve their psychology and profitability. New Trader U offers an extensive blog resource with more than 4,000 original articles, online courses, and best-selling books covering various topics.

7 Reasons the Middle Class Stays Broke While the Upper Class Thrives

7 Reasons the Middle Class Stays Broke While the Upper Class Thrives

Business, Economics, Investing, Personal Finance /

The wealth gap between the middle class and the upper class continues to widen, but the reason isn’t as simple as income differences. Two people earning similar salaries can end up in entirely different financial situations, depending on how they approach and manage their money. The distinction between staying broke and building wealth comes down […]

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10 Timeless Stoic Lessons from the World’s Greatest Thinkers

10 Timeless Stoic Lessons from the World’s Greatest Thinkers

Stoicism, Success /

The ancient Stoics built a philosophy so practical and powerful that it remains relevant two millennia later. While modern self-help cycles through trends, Stoicism endures because it addresses the fundamental architecture of human consciousness. These aren’t motivational platitudes. These are operating principles from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca that shaped emperors, servants, and everyone in

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The Top 10 Wealthiest Countries In The World In 2026

The Top 10 Wealthiest Countries In The World In 2026

Economics, Wealth /

The global economic hierarchy reveals which nations command the largest total economic output and exert the most influence in international markets. Based on the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook projections from October 2025, the world’s wealthiest countries by nominal GDP demonstrate where economic power concentrates as we move through 2026. These rankings measure total

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The Stoic Power of Introverts: Why Quiet People Are Mentally Strong

The Stoic Power of Introverts: Why Quiet People Are Mentally Strong

Psychology, Stoicism /

Society often mistakes quietness for weakness. Loud voices command attention. Extroverted personalities dominate boardrooms and social gatherings. But beneath the surface of introversion lies a different kind of power. Introverts possess the same qualities that ancient Stoic philosophers cultivated through rigorous mental training. Their natural tendencies align with principles that others have taken years of

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Top 10 Wealthiest Families in the World 2026

Top 10 Wealthiest Families in the World In 2026

Wealth /

The world’s wealthiest families control fortunes that surpass the economic output of entire nations. These dynasties represent the pinnacle of multigenerational wealth preservation, having mastered the art not only of creating wealth but also of sustaining it across decades or even centuries. Unlike individual billionaires who may see their fortunes rise and fall within a

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Minimum Annual Income Needed to Qualify as Middle Class in Florida 2026

Minimum Annual Income Needed to Qualify as Middle Class in Florida for 2026

Economics, Personal Finance /

The term “middle class” is frequently used in political discourse and financial planning conversations, but pinning down exactly what it means in terms of dollars and cents remains surprisingly elusive. For Florida residents wondering whether they’ve crossed that middle-class income threshold in 2026, the answer depends on household size, location within the state, and which

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10 Ways Wealthy People Build Assets While Poor People Build Debt

10 Ways Wealthy People Build Assets While Poor People Build Debt

Personal Finance, Wealth /

Wealth inequality is often discussed in terms of income, opportunity, or background. Those factors matter, but they do not fully explain why people with similar earnings can end up with radically different financial outcomes. The deeper explanation lies in behavior. Wealthy individuals and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds tend to make very different decisions with

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The Salary You Need to Be Considered Middle Class in Every U.S. State In 2026

The Salary You Need to Be Considered Middle Class in Every U.S. State In 2026

Economics, Personal Finance /

The term “middle class” is frequently used in American political and economic discussions, but few people understand what it actually means in concrete dollar terms. The salary required to maintain middle-class status varies dramatically depending on where you live, with some states requiring nearly double the income of others. Understanding these thresholds is crucial because

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The Stoic Art of Not Caring and list 5 Simple Ways to Live a Happy Life

The Stoic Art of Not Caring: 5 Simple Ways to Live a Happy Life

Psychology, Stoicism /

Modern culture has twisted Stoicism into something cold and indifferent. Social media posts celebrate “not caring” as a form of emotional armor or social detachment. This version of Stoicism misses the entire point. The Stoic art of not caring is not about becoming emotionally numb or withdrawing from meaningful relationships; it is about cultivating a

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The Average Middle-Class Income By State In 2026

The Average Middle-Class Income By State In 2026

Economics, Personal Finance /

The definition of middle-class income varies dramatically depending on where you live in the U.S. While the concept of being middle class might feel universal, the actual income required to achieve that status can differ by tens of thousands of dollars from one state to another. Understanding these differences is crucial for anyone planning their

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5 Stoic Signs of High IQ People

5 Stoic Signs of High IQ People According to Psychology

Intelligence, Stoicism /

While Stoicism and high IQ are distinct concepts—one being a philosophy of life and the other a measure of cognitive ability—psychologists and philosophers often point to a significant overlap between the two. High intelligence frequently manifests as cognitive economy and emotional regulation, which are core tenets of Stoic practice. The connection makes sense when you

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Average Middle-Class 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Edition)

Average Middle-Class 401(k) Balance by Age (2026 Edition)

Investing, Personal Finance, Retirement /

The 401(k) has become the retirement workhorse for middle-class Americans. Unlike previous generations who relied on pensions, today’s workers face the full responsibility of funding their own retirement. Understanding where you stand compared to your peers isn’t about comparison for its own sake. It’s about gauging whether your retirement trajectory is sustainable or whether course

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The Unspoken “Poor People Rules” That Stop Wealth Before It Starts

7 Unspoken “Poor People Rules” That Stop Wealth Building Before It Starts

Personal Finance, Wealth /

Most people who struggle financially don’t lack intelligence or work ethic. They’re following invisible rules, absorbed from childhood and reinforced by their environment, that feel like common sense but actually sabotage wealth building at every turn. These aren’t conscious decisions. They’re automatic responses shaped by scarcity, fear, and generational patterns. Understanding these unspoken beliefs is

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10 Stoic Habits Of Almost All Successful People

10 Stoic Habits Of Almost All Successful People

Habits, Success /

The ancient Stoics weren’t philosophers debating abstract concepts. They were emperors, statesmen, and merchants facing real problems. Marcus Aurelius led Rome through wars and plagues. Seneca advised emperors and built wealth. Epictetus taught practical wisdom that could be applied immediately. The habits they practiced weren’t theoretical. They were battle-tested methods for maintaining clarity, making better

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10 Habits of the Rich Vs the Middle Class (Financial Literacy)

10 Habits of the Rich Vs the Middle Class Due To Financial Literacy

Business, Investing, Personal Finance, Wealth /

The difference between wealth and middle-class financial struggle isn’t about intelligence, work ethic, or income. It’s about consistently applying financial literacy over decades. The wealthy think differently about money because they’ve learned principles most people never encounter. Financial literacy creates a framework for decision-making that compounds over time. While the middle class operates on incorrect

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Actual Net Worth to Be Considered Wealthy in 2026

Actual Net Worth to Be Considered Wealthy in 2026

Economics, Personal Finance, Wealth /

Most middle-class Americans spend their lives chasing an undefined financial target. They work harder, save more, and invest diligently without ever knowing the actual number that separates “comfortable” from “wealthy.” The goalposts keep moving, and the definition of wealth remains frustratingly vague. The truth is more concrete than you might think. Recent surveys and Federal

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5 Stoic Signs You’re a High Value Person, According to Psychology

5 Stoic Signs You’re a High Value Person, According to Psychology

Psychology, Stoicism /

The ancient Stoics understood something modern psychology is only now confirming: actual value isn’t measured by wealth, status, or achievements. It’s revealed through how you handle adversity, regulate emotions, and interact with the world around you. Stoicism, the philosophy practiced by Marcus Aurelius and other ancient thinkers, shares remarkable overlap with contemporary psychological research on

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5 Unspoken Rules Of The Wealthy

5 Unspoken Rules Of The Wealthy

Business, Investing, Wealth /

The gap between the wealthy and the middle class isn’t just about money. It’s about fundamentally different mental operating systems for viewing finances, risk, and opportunity. While conventional financial advice focuses on budgeting, saving, and avoiding debt, the wealthy follow a separate playbook that often contradicts everything the middle class has been taught. These unspoken

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America’s Middle Class Is Fleeing to These 10 States in Droves in 2026

America’s Middle Class Is Fleeing to These 10 States in Droves in 2026

Economics, Real Estate /

The American middle class is on the move in 2026, and their destination choices reveal a fundamental shift in priorities. These families are no longer chasing the traditional coastal dream. Instead, they’re searching for what migration experts call “the sweet spot”: regions that balance genuine economic opportunity with a cost of living that doesn’t drain

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