When a crypto-millionaire released a book* about famous treasures and personal growth, he added a twist: Five “puzzle boxes” hidden across the globe, with clues embedded in its pages.

The prizes are big: A Picasso pendant, rare gems, one Bitcoin, and other historic artifacts.

For those on the hunt, a short learning curve to solve the mystery would be nice. What’s also nice? Getting a windfall. Empower research finds that 1 in 4 people put their annual bonus towards essential items (24%), savings (44%), and retirement (28%), while 32% will spend the money on a vacation. 

— The Editors 

🎓 From degrees to dreams: Career changes in 2025 come with their own learning curve. Polishing resumes and navigating a competitive job market means Americans are looking at career pivots more than at any point in the past decade.* December showed a low 4.1%* unemployment rate, though 51% of U.S. workers in one poll say they’re ready for a career switch. Read more on The Currency^TM.

💵 Paycheck boosts ahead: January ushered in pay raises across 21 states, bumping minimum wages for more than 9.2 million* people. Washington D.C. already leads the pack at $17.50 per hour.*

👀 Tech takes off: The new Dice Tech report reveals that Florida tech salaries jumped 12.1%* last year, leading the nation in growth. Silicon Valley technologists still pull in the highest pay, at an average of $131,332, though it’s down 7.3% — proof even tech hubs face a learning curve. Meanwhile, manufacturing’s 15.1% pay raise highlights the industry’s race to automate and innovate. All the better to help Americans hit the magic $1.06 million needed to retire, according to Empower data.

💼 Lessons from the second act: Retirement looks much more active for Boomers and Gen Xers, who are re-entering the workforce at unprecedented levels. A record-breaking 3.15 million men aged 70 or older are now back on the job and navigating a career reinvention curve.

Learning by doing

Over the past decade, participation in apprenticeships has grown over 100%,* from about 317,000 to 640,000. Industries like tech and healthcare are leading the charge. Combining hands-on experience with career advancement, apprenticeships can provide some of the best lessons outside the classroom.

With rising concerns about college costs top of mind, and some retirees still paying student loan debt long after leaving school, apprenticeships can be an increasingly attractive option. 

History 101

History is a trending topic — at least according to the millions of fans tuning in to the growing universe of history podcasts.*

Some of the biggest podcasts around are making tidy sums, with podcasters on Patreon pulling in a collective $350 million in 2023.

A range of media formats are drawing interest, with books teaching about ancient history soaring by nearly 70% in the last decade as new generations are digging into the past — on their phones, laptops, and in live shows.

Driver’s ed

Ready to learn about an electric vehicle that runs on sunshine and doesn’t even need a plug? The Aptera* solar vehicle debuted at CES 2025 in Las Vegas and it’s optimized for efficiency with embedded solar panels. The three-wheeled prototype is sleek, ultra lightweight, and fuel-free — offering a glimpse into a future where innovation makes fuel costs obsolete.

With Americans spending an average of $182 on gasoline and $272 on utilities in December 2024, according to the Empower Personal Dashboard^TM, a car like this could steer the future toward efficiency while leaving fuel costs in the dust.