Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze & George Kamel
Episode: We Predict the Future of 2026âMoney, Celebrities and More!
Date: January 1, 2026
Overview
In this lively New Yearâs episode, Rachel Cruze and George Kamel don their prediction hats and forecast what 2026 holds for money, pop culture, and more. Blending their expertise as financial pros with humor and candid conversation, they share hot takes on everything from interest rates to Taylor and Travisâs wedding date. The show weaves in nostalgia, relatable stories, and the kind of friendly banter that makes Smart Money Happy Hour a fan favorite.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. New Year Vibes and Goal Setting (02:24)
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Rachel and George start with personal reflections on the New Year and their approach to resolutions.
- Rachel: âIâm in my no goal era. I feel like I just always were making goals. And the last probably two years, thereâs a level of like, hey⊠I just am tired, George. Tired.â (02:44)
- Both agree: the New Year brings a sense of renewal, but also pressure; for them, itâs more about resetting habits than relentless goal-chasing.
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Discussion of how their New Yearâs routines have changed with age and family, now preferring early nights and celebrating âmidnightâ at 10pm.
- George: âI do think itâs over. Staying up till midnight is overrated. Thatâs my hot tip.â (04:38)
2. 2026 Money Predictions (06:00)
a. Interest Rates and Housing Market (06:27)
- Mortgage rates have fallen from ~7% (early 2025) to 5.5% (as of recording).
- George predicts: âI can see things landing in like a 4 and a half to 5% range for a while, which is actually reasonable.â (07:08)
- Rachel adds: âIt continues to be a buyerâs market, which I appreciate.â (07:26)
- Less competition for homes compared to pandemic-era chaos.
- George: âThis could be a great time as rates go down and thereâs still some houses to be bought.â (07:31)
b. Sports Betting Trends Among Young Men (08:51)
- 36% of men under 30 placed a sports bet in the past year (Pew Research).
- Rachel confesses to a $10 Kentucky Derby bet: âI socially gamble. Only if other people are around do I gamble.â (09:58)
- They express concern over pervasive betting app ads and normalization of gambling.
- George: âI miss the days when you could just enjoy a game and then be mad when your team lost. Now youâre mad your team lost and you lost money on top of that.â (11:35)
c. Airbnbâs Waning Popularity (11:57)
- The âAirbnb hustleâ is declining; hidden fees and work for guests undermine appeal.
- George: âIâve seen one that was a thousand dollar pet fee per night!â (12:26)
- Rachel prefers hotels, praising predictability and little perks like made beds.
d. Stock Market Stability & Tech Bubbles (14:49)
- Rachel: âStock market will stay relatively consistent.â
- Georgeâs take: The AI market looks overvaluedââItâs like Jenga right now. It takes one piece to spook people.â (16:25)
- Both stress long-term investing discipline, not jumping out on bad news.
- Rachel: âStay in the game. You know what game Iâm staying in? The debit card game.â (17:34)
e. Self-Driving Cars to Become Mainstream (18:43)
- George predicts normalization of self-driving carsâespecially Teslas.
- George: âI have used the self driving feature and it is amazing⊠Do I fear for my life on occasion? Sure. But thatâs part of the journey.â (20:16)
- Rachel is skeptical: âNormalized is a very big word. I just donât think itâs going to like, suddenly every car is going to be self driving.â (18:53)
f. Buy Now, Pay Later Grows More Predatory (21:42)
- Rachel: âBuy now, pay later will become more predatory. So loan stacking, more hidden fees, late penalties⊠hidden in the fine print.â
- George predicts platforms will push BNPL at checkout to encourage overbuying.
g. Job Market to Stay Sluggish (23:15)
- Job openings are down; businesses invest in AI to cut costs.
- Rachel: âKnowing someone inside the company is vital. Those days of just applying onlineâgone.â (24:10)
- George: âLearn AI for your job⊠That makes you irreplaceable.â (24:37)
h. Housing Still a Buyerâs Market & 50-Year Mortgages (24:57)
- Houses sit longer; power shifts to buyers.
- George warns about new â50 year mortgageâ proposals: âOn a $400,000 loan⊠over $1 million in interest alone⊠youâre renting from the bank.â (26:25)
i. Overarching Money Advice (27:10)
- âDonât let fear drive your decision.â Focus on daily, positive actions. Long-term, boring finance beats flashy shortcuts.
- Rachel: âJust be remembering the 2027 you, if you will.â (28:22)
- George: âThe more boring your financial plan is, the better off youâre going to be.â (28:33)
3. Rapid Fire: Pop Culture Predictions (29:46)
a. Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Wedding (30:07)
- Rachel predicts: âLetâs go June 13th.â (30:07)
- George jokes: âLivestream it for charityâpay-per-view, you could solve world hunger.â (31:24)
b. Nostalgia as a Cash Cow (31:51)
- Rachel and George detail coming reunions (Laguna Beach, Backstreet Boys at the Sphere) and how music nostalgia triggers âall these emotions that I didnât even know were inside of me still.â (32:38)
- Science corner: Music from ages 10-16 gets hardwired in the brain.
c. High-profile Court Cases and More (34:44)
- Dissecting scandals, celebrity lawsuits, and whether trials should go pay-per-view for charity.
d. NSYNC Comeback Rumors (35:36)
- Rachel: âI donât think they can get Justin. Thatâs why Backstreet Boys worked⊠there wasnât, like, the one that, likeâŠâ (35:52)
e. Dolly Partonâs Post-2026 Retirement Rumors (36:31)
- George: âSheâs earned the right to not have to do things anymore, but we just want it, man.â (37:06)
- Rachel: âShe needs to pray for me. I mean, I feel like sheâs closer to God than I am.â (37:15)
f. Revival of Faith Among Young People (37:31)
- George predicts: Rise in religion and search for community among Gen Z.
- Rachel: â37% of Gen Zers now claim to be more spiritual than millennials did at their age.â (37:38)
- Both see this as a hopeful trend.
4. Champagne Review & Lighter Moments (39:11)
- Rachel and George rate their âCalifornia Champagneâ a 4 out of 10.
- âIt just has that bite at the end.â - George (39:15)
- âItâs got a little, like, sour on the back end.â - Rachel (39:33)
- Champagne-opening safety instructions: âYou twist and pull and then you hear it come up.â - Rachel (41:12)
- Relatable Kroger-champagne humor.
5. Guilty as Charged Segment (41:44)
Question: Ever banked on something happening and got let down?
- George: Dream job hosting Winter Jam fell throughââI think I cried in my childhood bedroomâŠâ (42:55)
- Rachel: Minor disappointments (speaking gigs that donât materialize), but floats through most risks like a âbutterfly effect.â
- She ties in Demi Lovatoâs âMake a Waveâ to the theme of small decisions making big changes. (44:47)
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- Rachel, on goals: âI feel like I just always were making goals. And the last probably two years⊠I just am tired, George. Tired. So Iâm just enjoying it.â (02:52)
- George, on investments: âDonât pull your money out. What happens is people jump out because they get spooked, and they forget to, like, jump back in.â (16:55)
- Rachel, on Airbnbs vs. hotels: âI just like having my bed made when I come back⊠Thereâs just like those little perks, but you pay more for it.â (14:42)
- George, on self-driving: âDoes it have a few bugs here and there? Yes. Do I fear for my life on occasion? Sure. But thatâs part of the journey.â (20:16)
- Rachel, on Buy Now, Pay Later: âIt starts adding up⊠you end up spending more and⊠If you donât make the payment, then itâs all this backed up fees and everything. So itâs just not a good plan.â (22:22)
- Rachel, on Dolly Parton: âI think she needs to pray for me. I mean, I feel like sheâs closer to God than I am.â (37:15)
- George, on financial plans: âThe more boring your financial plan is, the better off youâre going to be long term.â (28:33)
- Rachel, on the butterfly effect: âThe flap of a butterflyâs wings creates a little stirring, you know, and then⊠all the world is different because of a butterflyâs wings.â (43:59)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- New Year reflections: 02:24â05:48
- Money predictions start: 06:00
- Interest rates/housing: 06:27â07:48
- Sports betting: 08:51â11:11
- Airbnb discussion: 11:57â14:32
- Stock market predictions: 14:49â17:34
- Self-driving cars debate: 18:43â21:04
- Buy Now, Pay Later dangers: 21:42â23:11
- Job market/AI effects: 23:15â24:57
- Housing & 50-year mortgages: 24:57â27:10
- Core money advice: 27:10â28:33
- Pop culture rapid fire: 29:46â38:06
- Champagne review: 39:11â41:44
- Guilty as charged: 41:44â46:19
Summary
Rachel and George ring in 2026 with spirited, insightful banter and actionable money wisdom. Their predictions touch on mortgage rates, the wobbly job market, the perils of consumer loans, changing real estate trends, and cultural touchstones from superstar weddings to nostalgia-fueled reunions. Throughout, they urge listeners to focus on controllables, embrace boring-but-smart financial choices, and savor the community-building power of music, faith, and a little humor.
