Did You Know?
(Source: Prevail Bank)Parents Are Still Financially Supporting Their Adult Children
A recent Wells Fargo survey found that 64% of parents with Gen Z children (ages 18–28) are still providing financial support, and 56% say doing so is straining their own finances. (Source: Fortune)
Tax Refunds Were Significantly Larger This Year
As of March 20, the average individual tax refund for the 2025 filing season was $3,571, up 10.9% from $3,221 at the same point last year. The figures are based on roughly 79 million returns processed by the IRS. (Source: IRS.gov)
Nearly One in Three Americans Has No Savings
Almost 30% of Americans report having a zero balance in their savings account. (Source: The Motley Fool)
A One-Mile Stack of Dollar Bills Would Be Worth $14.5 Million
A stack of U.S. one-dollar bills reaching one mile into the sky would contain approximately $14.5 million. (Source: Prevail Bank)
The Eagle on the American Silver Dollar Was Real
The eagle depicted on early American silver dollars was modeled after Peter, a real bald eagle adopted by employees of the U.S. Mint in the 1830s. After Peter died, he was preserved and remains on display at the Mint. (Source: History Facts)
Some Italian Banks Accept Parmesan Cheese as Loan Collateral
For centuries, Italian banks—including Credito Emiliano—have accepted wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano as collateral for loans. Today, the bank reportedly stores nearly $200 million worth of aging cheese. (Source: CNN)
Piggy Banks Weren't Originally Named After Pigs
The term comes from "pygg," a type of clay used centuries ago to make household jars, including containers for saving money. (Source: BBC)
Carrier Pigeons Once Delivered Stock Market News
Before the telegraph, carrier pigeons were often the fastest way to transmit stock prices and financial news across Europe—sometimes beating trains to their destination. (Source: The Fact Site)
Zimbabwe Holds the Record for the Worst Inflation in History
In November 2008, Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate reached an estimated 6.5 sextillion percent, making it the highest inflation ever recorded. (Source: Forbes)
Gold and the Dow Jones Once Shared the Same Number
In 1980, both gold (per ounce) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were around 800. Today, gold trades near $4,300 per ounce, while the Dow is around 48,000. (Source: GoldSilver)
One Taxpayer Tried to Claim a $980,000 Refund on Less Than $20,000 of Income
In 2016, a Florida man filed a fraudulent federal tax return reporting $18,497 in income while claiming nearly $1 million in tax withholding. The refund claim was denied, and he was prosecuted. (Source: CNBC)
Every S&P 500 Stock Has Closed Lower on the Same Day Only Once in 25 Years
The only trading day in the past quarter-century when every stock in the S&P 500 declined was August 8, 2011, the first trading day after Standard & Poor's downgraded the U.S. government's credit rating. (Source: Forbes)
Sweden Once Used 40-Pound Coins
During the 1600s, Sweden issued enormous copper coins called dalers that weighed as much as 40 pounds, helping pave the way for the eventual adoption of paper money. (Source: Guinness World Records)
Nearly One in Five New Car Loans Now Carries a $1,000 Monthly Payment
During the first quarter of 2026, 19% of new vehicle loans required monthly payments of at least $1,000, up from 5.4% in the first quarter of 2021. Nearly three-quarters of those loans financed non-luxury vehicles, with pickup trucks leading the list. (Source: Experian)
Most Financial Advisors Believe AI Will Become Essential
In an April survey of 783 financial professionals, 78% said advisors who fail to adopt AI within the next three to five years will be at a competitive disadvantage, while 63% believe AI will help smaller advisory firms compete more effectively with larger firms. (Source: InspereX)
More Data Has Been Created in the Last Three Years Than in All Previous Human History
The growth of digital information has accelerated so rapidly that more data has been generated in the past three years than during all of recorded history before it. (Source: JPMorgan)