The carry-on bag battle begins, restaurants try surge pricing and a conversation on early 401(k) withdrawals

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More restaurants try surge pricing?

The idea of raising prices for food during peak times, a la Uber, caused such a stir recently that Wendy's issued a statement saying it will not implement surge pricing. But other chains, including Dave & Busters, are already experimenting with the concept, using tech platforms to change prices based on demand. Read more here. ?? Kara Reinhardt

Weigh in with #DynamicPricing: What other industries do you think will start to adopt dynamic and surge pricing?

The great carry-on battle begins?

Checked bag fees get the headlines, but carry-ons might deserve your attention more, writes The Wall Street Journal. That's because the items you bring onboard represent the next battleground between airlines and passengers. Southwest fired the first shot when it recently implemented a policy that considers, for instance, pillows and blankets as personal items. See more here. ?? Bobby Armstrong

Share your POV using #AirlineIndustry: How will new carry-on policies impact consumer brand loyalty??

Topics on the Rise

• A bill that would require TikTok to spin off from its Chinese owner or cease operations in the U.S. is advancing to the Senate.
• A shortage of plumbers in the U.S. threatens to not only delay your leaky sink repair; it’s also costing the economy billions, according to Bloomberg.
• What will it look like to buy a home after the historic National Association of Realtors settlement? Some buyers might pay a flat fee or an hourly rate to their agents, rather than being committed to the one set by the seller.

We’re all experts in something and we all have knowledge and experiences to share. Lean into exchanging information with like minds on the platform around a different topic each week.?

This week's topic: 401(k) Borrowing?

A record share of 401(k) account holders took early withdrawals from their accounts last year for financial emergencies, according to internal data from Vanguard Group. Alongside increasing withdrawals — the average 401(k) account balance rose 19% in 2023. Automatic enrollment and increasing contribution rate programs are playing a key role in increased retirement savings. "Many workers like the ideas of borrowing from themselves," says Dave Stinnett, head of strategic retirement consulting at Vanguard.

Comment below: What tips do you have for those planning to or thinking about borrowing from their 401(k) early?

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