The IFOD

The Interesting Fact of the Day Blog

Nothing is as Bad or as Good as it Seems

Nothing is as Bad or as Good as it Seems

In his book Algebra of Happiness, Scott Galloway notes that "nothing is ever as bad or as good as it seems" and sets this notion out as the formula above. While not an absolute rule, there's wisdom in his view. Raj Raghunathan, a happiness researcher at the University...

Were the Dark Ages Faked?

Were the Dark Ages Faked?

I love a good conspiracy theory, so I was excited to be told of one last week that was new to me: the "Phantom Time Hypothesis," which claims that nearly 300 years of history never happened. Under this theory, it's not 2023; rather, we're living in 1726. How fun! The...

What if ChatGPT is Like Calculators?

What if ChatGPT is Like Calculators?

Handheld calculators were introduced in the 1970s. Here's what a popular mid-70s model looked like (for those of you of a certain age, this will be nostalgic): Canon Palmtronic 8 Mini Handheld Electronic Calculator Handheld calculators were a big deal. Prior to...

Happy Pi (and STL Day)!

Happy Pi (and STL Day)!

Today is March 14th or 3/14, 3.14, or just 314. It's a day when all things Pi is celebrated. Now, hang on to your hat for some amazing 314 facts. Pi is a Really Long Number Pi, of course, is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is an irrational...

The Downside of the Quest for Financial Success

The Downside of the Quest for Financial Success

Most of us (all of us?) would rather be richer than poorer. This makes sense. Having more financial resources allows us to have nicer houses and cars, take better vacations, to access better education, and is associated with living longer. Plus, those with higher...

What Makes Us Happy (In the Moment)?

What Makes Us Happy (In the Moment)?

Determining what makes us happy is complex. Short-term unpleasantness (like studying for an exam) can lead to long-term satisfaction (being better educated or getting a degree). But life is a string of moments, so knowing what makes people happy in the moment is...

The Coming Demographic Cliff For Colleges

The Coming Demographic Cliff For Colleges

Being a wealth manager during 2008-2009 was unbelievably stressful. As I write in my upcoming book, "The Uncertainty Solution," the Financial Crisis of 2008 was "a watershed event that sliced my life into two parts and changed who I am professionally and...

Happy Groundhog Day and The IFOD Turns Six!

Happy Groundhog Day and The IFOD Turns Six!

Groundhog Day is my third favorite holiday (behind Thanksgiving and Christmas). I love it not because I believe that Punxsutawney Phil can predict winter’s duration but because I think the notion that a large rodent has weather-predicting abilities is hilarious. It is...

Happy Backward Day!

Happy Backward Day!

Today is National Backward Day, a national holiday that has been celebrated since 1961. The point of Backward Day is to look at how we usually do things and consider doing them backward. My morning guided meditation -- the Daily Calm on the Calm app -- mentioned the...

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Want to book John at your next event? Or, do you have a question for him, a topic you'd like him to explore on his IFOD blog, or just want to say hey? Reach out here, he responds to all inquiries (although it might take some time—he gets a lot of fan mail).

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314-719-1523
jjennings[at]Stlouistrust.com

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