Vice President JD Vance campaigned Monday in Hendersonville for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Republican House candidates Jennifer Balkcom and Laurie Buckhout.
Good Morning! On this day in 1898, John Merrick and six fellow investors organized the North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association in Durham. It grew into the nation’s largest black-owned business and the anchor of the city’s Black Wall Street.
World champion rowers will converge on High Point this weekend. Learn more in Top Stories.
What does $1 million actually get you once retirement hits? A life of cruises and beach houses, or something far more ordinary? How much disappears into housing before the first trip is booked? What happens when the medical bills arrive, and is there anything left for the grandkids? And the biggest factor in how far a million goes: It’s not the stock market, and it surprises almost everyone. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the five things you need to know about retiring with seven figures.Tune in here!
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Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is offering a guide for tips and advice on creating a retirement strategy that’s cohesive, current, and aligned with your full financial picture.
Vice President JD Vance campaigned Monday in Hendersonville for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Republican House candidates Jennifer Balkcom and Laurie Buckhout.
He promised $858 million in additional Department of Transportation funding for Hurricane Helene recovery, saying it would rebuild eight major corridors, including I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge.
A protester seated behind Vance interrupted by shouting“Release the Epstein files!” Security removed the man as the crowd booed and chanted “USA!”
Vance’s Hendersonville stop is part of the Trump administration’s push to encourage GOP turnout for the midterm elections. President Trump will hold a midterm rally in Greenville today, with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. and his remarks scheduled for 7 p.m.
Early Voting Surges across NC
More than 500,000 North Carolinians had cast ballots by Saturday, the third day of early voting for the November midterms, running well ahead of the same point in 2022.
Democratic turnout has climbed, while Republican turnout is roughly flat with 2022, according to Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer.
The open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis tops the ballot and was a key focus of Vice President JD Vance during his Hendersonville rally on Monday. Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, faces Republican Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair.
An ECU poll conducted Sept. 30 through Oct. 8 put Cooper ahead 50% to 43% among likely voters. Cooper also outraised Whatley for a third straight quarter.
World-Class Rowers Converge on High Point
The reigning world-champion U.S. women’s four will headline the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Saturday, racing an international crew on Oak Hollow Lake.
The Oct. 24 regatta, set at Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake, pits Team USA against a World squad in a match that has made the Triad an unlikely stop on the elite rowing circuit.
The field is capped at 420 entries this year and runs collegiate, high school, and masters races alongside the marquee event, with a livestream planned for those who can’t line the banks.
A successful retirement strategy should account for more than individual investments.Your goals, health, spending needs, family, and other accounts all shape the approach that may be right for you. For investors with $1 million or more, bringing those pieces together can be especially important. The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income explores how to balance short-term volatility against long-term growth needs, prepare for inflation, coordinate your portfolio, schedule withdrawals, and keep your retirement plan current.
Download the guide for tips and advice on creating a strategy that’s cohesive, current, and aligned with your full financial picture. Then schedule a conversation with a financial professional to discuss ways to bring your retirement plan to life.
➤ Statewide: AAA reports that, as of Monday, North Carolina fuel prices have fallen to $3.60 for unleaded and $5.60 for diesel, among the nation’s lowest, after lawmakers suspended the 41-cent per-gallon fuel tax through Nov. 30. (More)
➤ NC Coast: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to revisit Frederick Allen’s copyright lawsuit against North Carolina over images of Blackbeard’s flagship, leaving intact a 4th Circuit ruling for the state. (More)
➤ Dare County: The school system dismissed Cape Hatteras Elementary and Secondary students early Monday as a coastal storm, expected to last into Thursday, eroded NC 12 and brought overwash to Rodanthe, though the highway remains passable. (More)
➤ Rodanthe: Cape Hatteras National Seashore is again warning that several structurally compromised oceanfront houses could collapse during high surf, scattering debris for miles. The Park Service said beachgoers should steer clear of the threatened homes and downwind areas. (More)
➤ Wilmington: Novant Health will hold a free drive-thru medication take-back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at two sites, accepting unused medicines, syringes, and vaping devices for safe disposal. (See Details)
➤ Charlotte: Jocelyn Nolley will not seek another term as chair of the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a post she has held for four years. Nolley, whose term ends in December, told members she'll remain with the group. (More)
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➤ UNC men’s basketball was routed 76-58 by Indiana in an exhibition Sunday in Indianapolis, the second tune-up of Michael Malone’s debut season. The Tar Heels were outrebounded 33-21 and trailed by as many as 22. (More)
➤ UNC women's basketball, meanwhile, rode a fourth-quarter surge to a 76-66 exhibition win over Davidson in Chapel Hill on Sunday. (More)
➤ Sun Belt-leading James Madison visits Appalachian State in Boone on Thursday night, with the 4-2 Mountaineers' starting quarterback Malachi Singleton uncertain unless App State rules him out. The 7-0 Dukes are favored by 10.5 points. (More)
➤ Duke cornerback Kimari Robinson apologized after video showed him swatting away an athletic trainer’s arm as she tended to an injured teammate during the Blue Devils’ 24-20 loss to North Carolina. He said he was wrong and that she didn’t deserve it. (More)
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➤ TSA pulled Piedmont Triad International Airport from its Gateside by TSA PreCheck program, which let PreCheck members without tickets go past security to meet or see off travelers. The agency scaled the program back to its 13 original airports while it evaluates participation and operational impacts. (More)
➤ Greensboro-based Triad Business Bank continues pursuing a merger with Durham’s historic M&F Bancorp after the board rebuffed its multiple unsolicited proposals amid a competing Optus deal. (More)
➤ Pella will shut down its Reidsville manufacturing facility in Rockingham County by Jan. 31, 2027, cutting 133 jobs. Some employees face layoffs starting Dec. 3. All laid-off employees will get eight weeks’ pay. (More)
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More accounts, managers, and investment choices do not always add up to a cohesive retirement strategy. Investors with $1 million or more may benefit from stepping back to consider how each decision fits their goals, time frame, and full financial picture. The Definitive Guide to Retirement Incomeexamines risk, inflation, portfolio coordination, withdrawals, and investment income sources. Download the guide and schedule a conversation with a financial professional to talk about your plan.
➤ NASA has named astronaut Christina Koch—a three-time NC State graduate who flew on Artemis II in April—as its acting deputy chief engineer, effective Nov. 1. The role makes her a management astronaut and ends her eligibility for future spaceflights. (More)
➤ Early risers today may have spotted the glowing “space jellyfish” exhaust plume of SpaceX’s pre-dawn Bandwagon-5 Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral. The southeast-bound mission was expected to hang lower and dimmer in North Carolina’s skies than last week’s show. (More)
➤ Nearly 400 runners gathered at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Sunday for a 5K benefiting victims of catastrophic flooding and landslides in Nepal. Organized by the Nepal Center of North Carolina, the effort has raised close to $70,000 for flood relief. (More)
Editor's Note: Our colleague, the former $900 million hedge fund manager Larry Benedict, has discovered a way to make money from gold… WITHOUT buying a single ounce. Read on to learn more…
Dear Reader,
A former hedge fund manager has discovered a unique way to pull cash from the gold markets.
Anthropic IPO Excitement Puts IPO Investing Back in Focus
Posted On Oct 05, 2026 by Ian Cooper
A potential Anthropic IPO is putting IPO investing and artificial intelligence stocks in the spotlight. But investors looking for ways to invest in newly public companies don’t have to chase a single stock on its opening day. The First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (NYSE ARCA: FPX) offers exposure to a basket of qualifying IPOs and spin-offs, making it worth a closer look for those interested in opportunities beyond one highly anticipated debut.
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Reportedly, Anthropic shifted its planned offering to November 2026 from October, with investors discussing a potential valuation around $2 trillion. That would make it a substantial market debut, although the timing and valuation remain subject to change.
It’s easy to understand the excitement. Investors want exposure to businesses that could help shape the future of artificial intelligence. When a recognizable company finally becomes available to public investors, the temptation to jump in can be strong.
But an exciting company and an attractive entry price are two different things.
Why Investors Should Wait Beyond the Anthropic IPO Opening Day
Highly anticipated IPOs can bring out Wall Street’s fear of missing out, better known as FOMO. Investors see the headlines, imagine enormous gains, and worry that waiting means missing their chance. The problem is that the advertised IPO price may bear little resemblance to the price available when you place an order.
Consider a hypothetical company that prices its offering at $50 a share but opens at $80. Someone buying at the opening is paying 60% more than investors who received shares at the offering price. The business hasn’t suddenly become 60% better. Demand has simply pushed the trading price higher.
That doesn’t guarantee a decline. Some IPOs keep climbing. But it does mean that expectations are already doing a lot of work. Waiting gives investors time to examine the valuation, watch trading settle, and decide whether the opportunity still makes sense.
How the FPX ETF Gives Investors Broader IPO Exposure
FPX tracks the IPOX-100 U.S. Index, which targets 100 qualifying companies associated with recent IPOs, spin-offs, and certain acquisitions of recently public businesses. Its underlying selection universe follows newly public companies during their first 1,000 trading days, and the index rebalances quarterly.
FPX’s published expense ratio is 0.57%, equivalent to approximately $57 annually on a $10,000 investment, assuming its value stays unchanged.
Think of FPX as a way to participate in a broader opportunity while accepting that some businesses will outperform and others will disappoint. That thesis is evident in the fund’s holdings, which include names like GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) and SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) that have recently IPO’d. It also offers exposure to momentum names such as Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY), and SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK).
Anthropic could bring renewed attention to IPO investing. FPX provides a fund worth researching as that story develops. The sensible approach is to understand what it owns, evaluate the price, and resist the urge to treat enthusiasm as a substitute for investment discipline.
The Best IPO Investment May Not Be the First Trade
The biggest opportunity in an IPO isn’t always the first trade.
Sometimes, it comes after the initial excitement fades and investors can take a clearer look at what they’re buying. There’s no prize for being first if you end up paying a price the business struggles to justify.
For investors who want exposure to newly public companies, FPX offers a practical way to spread that bet across multiple businesses. It won’t eliminate risk, and investors shouldn’t assume it will automatically own Anthropic. But its broader approach can reduce reliance on a single debut living up to enormous expectations.
As the Anthropic story develops, keep your focus on the price you pay and the businesses behind the headlines. A successful investment needs more than an exciting opening day—it needs reasons to keep owning it long afterward.
Today’s editorial pick for you
Top NFL Betting Stocks to Trade the 2026–27 Season
Posted On Oct 05, 2026 by Ian Cooper
The NFL season gives fans plenty to look forward to. For investors, it also brings a reason to watch NFL betting stocks that could benefit from months of betting activity. DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG) is one of those names, with Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) recently upgrading the stock to Buy from Neutral, pointing to opportunities in prediction markets and a potentially improving earnings outlook.
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The betting market is substantial. The American Gaming Association expects Americans to wager about $29.5 billion through regulated commercial sportsbooks during the 2026 NFL season. That’s only slightly above last season’s $29.4 billion, but it still gives companies like DraftKings a large pool of business to compete for.
Of course, the amount wagered isn’t the same as revenue. Sportsbooks have to pay winning bettors, cover expenses, and spend money attracting customers. For investors, the real question is how much of that activity turns into profit.
A former $900 million hedge fund manager has discovered a unique way to pursue payouts from gold without buying a single ounce.
Larry Benedict calls it “Gold Skimming.” It has nothing to do with mining, panning, or physically owning gold. His strategy has reportedly generated payouts of $2,975… $3,781… and even $6,786. And it doesn't necessarily require gold prices to rise.
In a historical sample, the approach reportedly achieved a 73% win rate across 26 trades, including 19 winners.
Now, Larry is sharing a short, step-by-step walkthrough explaining how the strategy works and how beginners can explore it.
NFL Betting Stocks: Why Bank of America Likes DraftKings Stock
One reason behind Bank of America’s upgrade is its more optimistic view of prediction markets. The firm sees less risk that these products will take business away from DraftKings’ traditional sportsbook. It also believes Wall Street’s earnings estimates may be nearing a bottom.
Prediction markets allow customers to trade contracts based on whether an event happens. For DraftKings, that could create another way to attract customers and give existing users more reasons to stay active. The idea is easy to understand. DraftKings already has an audience familiar with its brand. Adding products could help it earn more business from that audience while reaching new customers.
Buying DraftKings shares is one way to invest in the theme. For investors who would rather spread their money across several companies, there’s the Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF (NYSEARCA: BETZ).
This actively managed fund focuses on sports betting and online gaming. Its published holdings include DraftKings, Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT) —the company behind FanDuel and Rush Street Interactive. Its annual expense ratio is 0.75%, or roughly $75 a year on a $10,000 investment, assuming the investment’s value stays constant.
The appeal is straightforward: you don’t have to pick a single winner. Owning several companies reduces your dependence on how well any one business performs. Still, these companies face many of the same challenges. Higher taxes, tougher regulations, and expensive competition for customers could weigh on several holdings at once.
Another option is the Corgi Sports Betting & Gambling ETF (BATS: ODDZ). This actively managed fund can invest across the gambling industry, including sportsbooks, casinos, online gaming platforms, and businesses that supply betting technology and data. Its annual expense ratio is 0.35%, which works out to about $35 per year on a steady $10,000 investment.
That approach gives investors exposure to more than the companies accepting bets. It can also include businesses supplying the systems and services that keep the industry running. However, ODDZ isn’t strictly an NFL investment. Its broader gambling exposure means casino spending, overseas markets, and other developments can also influence its performance.
NFL Betting Stocks: DRAY ETF Uses DraftKings Options to Generate Income
The YieldMax DKNG Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSEARCA: DRAY) takes a different approach.
DRAY uses options tied to DraftKings to seek weekly income while maintaining exposure to movements in the stock. Its strategy includes selling call spreads, and the issuer lists a gross annual expense ratio of 1.03%.
For investors, the attraction is the potential for regular cash payments. But those payments can vary, and they shouldn’t be confused with a guaranteed return. Distributions may include a return of capital. There’s also a trade-off: the options strategy can limit participation in a strong DraftKings rally, while investors remain exposed to losses if the stock falls. A weekly payout won’t necessarily offset a declining share price.
In the end, DraftKings offers direct exposure to one operator; BETZ and ODDZ hold baskets of industry stocks, and DRAY offers an options-based income approach. Understanding those differences is a useful first step before choosing how to invest.
