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The right and wrong ways to do it

Published

11 months ago

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Tom Werner | Digitalvision | Getty Images

Workers are “hugging” — or, clinging to — their jobs right now.

But there’s a right and wrong way to “hug” your work — and doing it poorly could be costly, according to career experts and labor economists.

“I don’t think job hugging is the move,” said Mandi Woodruff-Santos, a career coach.

Why people are job hugging

The “quits” rate — which measures the pace of voluntary separations from employment — has sat at 2% in recent months, its lowest sustained level since 2016.

About 52% of new hires had changed jobs just once in the past two years, according to a ZipRecruiter’s most recent quarterly survey of new hires. That share is up from 43% in Q2. The site surveys workers during the second month of each quarter.

Some of that “hugging” behavior is likely out of necessity, since it’s gotten harder to find a job, experts said.

Job growth has weakened considerably and the pace of hiring has slowed to its lowest level since 2013, excluding the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I think a lot of workers are cognizant of the uncertainty in the market right now,” said Nicole Bachaud, a labor economist at ZipRecruiter.

We're in a no hiring, no firing economy, says JPMorgan Asset's Phil Camporeale

But it’s not one-sided: Employers are also clinging to their workers.

Workers were hard to find during the so-called great resignation in 2021 and 2022, a period with a historically high rate of job hopping.

“As a result, many companies do not want to get caught short workers and have held on to staff,” Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute, wrote in a Sept. 10 market commentary. “And of course, uncertainty over tariff effects and economic growth has made many companies hesitant to expand their current workforce.”

Workers may fear more cuts are on the horizon in a cooling job market — and may feel safer in a familiar role rather than as a new hire at an outside organization, Bachaud said.

The job market could become more hospitable to job seekers if the Federal Reserve starts to cut interest rates this week, which could prompt many employers to expand their hiring activity, Bachaud said.

The right and wrong way to ‘job hug’

But choosing to stay at a job comes with risks, too, especially for sedentary workers who don’t seek out growth opportunities, Bachaud said.

“Complacency can put your job at risk,” she said.

Managers generally lay off workers for objective and subjective reasons, said Alan Guarino, vice chairman of CEO and board services at Korn Ferry.

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Objective analysis is based on measurable details: absenteeism, failure to turn in assignments or having a bad attitude, for example, Guarino said.

Combatting the subjective part of the formula means finding ways to stand out and “be impressive,” Guarino said.

That may be relatively more challenging to accomplish as workers have lost bargaining power, he said.

“In a job-hugging market, you might actually have to work harder to be impressive because if there’s not as much hiring activity out there, your employer may feel like they’re in a position to ask more from you,” Guarino said. “They may have a high level of confidence that you can’t go anywhere anyway.”

This might mean taking on more responsibility, or signaling you’re willing to take on new opportunities and challenges, experts said.

For example, workers who stay connected to customers and give them attention even when that customer isn’t spending money end up in a really strong position when the economy turns, Guarino said.

To that end, Woodruff-Santos, the career coach, advocates for “pivoting in place.”

This entails seeking ways to advance internally in your current company, perhaps by asking for a promotion or shadowing a colleague to pick up new skill sets, she said.

Relationship-building is also key during tough job markets, experts said.

Zandi: Job growth is flat, and that will drive rate cuts

Expand your social capital — your network of mentors, colleagues, those in other organizations — to set yourself up for success when the job market eventually thaws, Guarino said.

“During this ‘great hug,’ the time [workers] might have been spending looking for new jobs, they should invest in adding people to their network,” Guarino said.

“There will be another ‘great resignation’ on the horizon,” he said. “The ones building their social-capital network will be the ones getting the phone calls” when opportunities emerge.

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Personal Finance

$20,000 Caution Bond Requirement for US Visa Applications imposed on 50 Countries

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6 days ago

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August 8, 2026

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The United States Department of State has officially implemented a revised visa policy introducing a mandatory posting requirement for caution payments of up to $20,000 on select foreign travel applications. Under the updated regulatory framework, consular officials are authorized to require temporary nonimmigrant visa applicants from targeted foreign countries to post a refundable financial bond of $20,000 as a condition for visa issuance. The policy mechanism is designed to address diplomatic concerns regarding high overstay rates among temporary visitor, business, and educational visa categories.

The caution bond pilot program applies selectively to foreign nationals from designated countries whose diplomatic entities record historical visa overstay rates exceeding established federal thresholds. Under administrative guidelines published by the State Department, the full financial deposit is posted directly to a dedicated federal escrow account prior to final visa issuance. The entire caution payment is automatically refunded to the applicant upon verified proof of timely departure from the United States in strict compliance with the authorized duration of stay. Conversely, failure to depart within the legal timeframe results in full forfeiture of the posted financial bond to the United States government.

Diplomatic representatives and travel policy experts have expressed varying perspectives regarding the operational implementation of the caution bond system. Administration officials emphasize that the measure serves as an effective, market-based incentive to enforce international travel compliance and preserve domestic immigration security standards. However, international trade organizations and foreign diplomatic missions have raised concerns regarding the financial burden imposed on legitimate business travelers, foreign students, and commercial partners from developing nations.

The United States finalized the rule to make the temporary visa bond program permanent, taking effect on August 3, 2026. The updated permanent regulation replaces the prior 12-month pilot, eliminates the lowest $5,000 tier, and raises the maximum required bond amount to $20,000 for specific B-1/B-2 business and tourist visa applicants.

Here is the list of the 50 countries on the list as o August 3, 2026

African Nations (31 Countries)

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
  • Central African Republic
  • Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Asian & Eastern European Nations (11 Countries)

  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • Georgia
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Mongolia
  • Nepal
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan

Caribbean & Latin American Nations (5 Countries)

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Venezuela

Oceanian Nations (3 Countries)

  • Fiji
  • Tonga
  • Vanuatu

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Personal Finance

Next-Generation Retirement Planning: Managing Longevity Risk and Variable Income Streams

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1 week ago

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August 7, 2026

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Retirement planning strategies are evolving in 2026 to address increased life expectancies, shifting dynamic market conditions, and the transition away from traditional defined-benefit pensions. Individual investors and financial advisors are abandoning rigid retirement models in favor of flexible, multi-asset strategies designed to mitigate longevity risk and preserve purchasing power over multi-decade retirement horizons.

Mitigating Longevity Risk with Dynamic Asset Allocation
As average life expectancies extend past eighty-five years, one of the primary financial risks facing retirees is outliving their accumulated wealth. Traditional fixed income allocations—such as the standard 60/40 equity-to-bond portfolio—are being reevaluated to ensure portfolios generate sufficient capital growth alongside reliable income.

Financial planners recommend maintaining a meaningful equity allocation throughout retirement to offset long-term inflation erosion. High-dividend equity funds, global real estate investment trusts (REITs), and inflation-indexed Treasuries are combined to create diversified portfolios that deliver both growth and income stability.

The Transition to Dynamic Withdrawal Strategies
The classic “4% safe withdrawal rule” is increasingly replaced by dynamic withdrawal strategies that adapt annually based on market performance. Under a dynamic withdrawal framework, retirees adjust their annual distribution rates within pre-set caps and floors:
– Market Upside: During strong market returns, retirees can increase discretionary spending or fund family legacy gifts.
– Market Downturns: During market pullbacks, spending distributions are temporarily reduced to prevent sequence-of-returns risk and preserve core investment principal.

Guaranteed Lifetime Income Options and Deferred Annuities
To establish a guaranteed baseline for essential living expenses, individuals are incorporating modern fixed-indexed and deferred longevity annuities into their broader retirement architectures. Modern annuity structures offer competitive return caps, transparent fee schedules, and inflation-adjustment options.

By funding essential expenses—such as housing, healthcare, and insurance—with guaranteed income streams from Social Security, pensions, and annuities, retirees can manage discretionary investment portfolios with greater flexibility and lower emotional stress during market volatility.

Actionable Steps for Future Retirees
1. Calculate Baseline Retirement Expenses: Determine fixed living costs and map guaranteed income sources to cover essential expenditures.
2. Adopt Flexible Withdrawal Rules: Implement dynamic spending rules to protect investment principal against market downturns.
3. Incorporate Inflation-Protected Assets: Maintain exposure to dividend-growing equities and inflation-indexed bonds to safeguard long-term purchasing power.

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Personal Finance

Building Generational Wealth: Family Governance, Estate Tax Optimization, and Asset Protection

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2 weeks ago

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August 1, 2026

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As the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history accelerates, high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and individual investors are placing heightened emphasis on comprehensive estate planning, family governance, and asset protection. Preserving capital across generations requires a balanced approach combining tax-efficient legal structures with open family communication and financial literacy education.

Optimizing Estate Tax Exemptions and Trust Structures
With potential modifications to federal estate tax exemption thresholds on the horizon, proactive estate planning is essential for high-net-worth households. Estate planning attorneys and wealth advisors are establishing multi-generational trust structures to transfer wealth efficiently while minimizing estate and gift tax exposure.

Popular structural strategies include:
– Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs): Utilizing life insurance proceeds to provide liquidity for estate tax obligations without expanding the taxable estate.
– Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs): Transferring rapidly appreciating assets to beneficiaries with minimal gift tax consequences.
– Dynasty Trusts: Preserving wealth across multiple generations while providing long-term asset protection from creditor claims and legal liabilities.

Establishing Family Governance and Financial Education
Legal and financial structures alone cannot guarantee long-term wealth preservation without effective family governance. Financial advisors report that a significant percentage of multi-generational wealth dissipation stems from lack of communication and inadequate financial preparation among heir generations.

Families are establishing formal family governance frameworks, including periodic family meetings, written mission statements, and structured philanthropic foundations. Involving younger family members in charitable grant-making and investment discussions fosters financial stewardship and prepares heirs to manage family assets responsibly.

Digital Asset Custody and Legacy Planning
In today’s modern economy, estate planning must extend beyond physical real estate and traditional brokerage accounts to encompass digital assets. Comprehensive estate plans now include detailed inventories and legal access protocols for corporate domain names, intellectual property, digital media rights, and cryptocurrency holdings.

Fiduciaries and estate executors should be provided with secure, encrypted access mechanisms and clear legal authority to manage and transfer digital holdings in accordance with the owner’s estate directions.

Practical Steps for Legacy Planning
1. Review and Update Estate Documents: Ensure wills, revocable trusts, and power-of-attorney designations accurately reflect current family structures.
2. Establish Structured Trusts: Utilize irrevocable trusts to protect assets from creditors and minimize future estate tax liabilities.
3. Create a Digital Estate Inventory: Document access protocols and legal permissions for all online accounts, intellectual property, and digital assets.

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