Between summer vacations and going to the beach and having the hot girl or guy summer of your dreams, this season can be a little hard on our wallets. A Chime checking account helps you reach your financial goals while still enjoying the summer. You can take back your finances with features like fee-free overdraft up to $200 with SpotMe or getting paid up to two days early with direct deposit. Learn more at chime. Com/mnn. And you know I hate overdrafted fees. One time, I overdrafted buying a latte, which was so embarrassing at the time, but hey, it happens to the best of us. And I got charged 35 bucks for a $7 latte. But Chime allows you to overdraft up to $200 with no fees, and you can get temporarily increased overdraft limits with boosts from friends. Live it up this summer and make progress toward your financial goals with Chime. Open your account in minutes at chime. Com/mn. That's chime. Com/mnn. Chime. Feels like progress. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank NA or Stride Bank NA. Members FDIC. Spot SpotMe eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Boots are available to eligible Chime members enrolled in SpotMe and are subject to monthly limits.

Terms and conditions apply. Go to chime. Com/disclosures for details.

Bye, Lo. So high. It is such a simple concept, but not necessarily an easy concept. Right now, high interest rates have crushed the real estate market. Prices are falling and properties are available at a discount, which means that Fundrise believes now is the time to expand the Fundrise flagship Funds billion-dollar real estate portfolio. You can add the Fundrise Flagship fund to your portfolio in just minutes and with as little as $10 by visiting fundrise. Com/moneyrehab. That's F-U-N-D-R-I-S-E. Com/moneyrehab. Carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the fund's prospectus at fundrise.

Com/flagship. This is a paid advertisement.

I'm Nicole Lappin, the only financial expert you don't need a dictionary to understand. It's time for some money rehab. You guys, I have been so happy not talking about crypto for a few months now. Even with all the market craziness, if there's no crypto craziness, I'm a really happy camper. But there is new news in the crypto world making the rounds, and as it will come as a surprise to no one, I am not a big fan. The news is that some pension plans are starting to consider dipping their toes into the world of crypto. Yet, the very thing that keeps your retirement nest egg safe and secure, might be getting hosy with one of the most volatile, unpredictable assets out there: cryptocurrency. Here's what's going on. Manuel Nordist from Fidelity Digital Assets said at an event in London that he's seeing big bigger, more traditional players like pension funds starting to have conversations about investing in crypto. So to be clear, this story does not end with me telling you that every major pension fund has moved everyone's life savings into crypto, and now all the grandmas and grandpas out there are living out their twilight years on Dogecoin.

It is not that dark. These conversations are just beginning. But let me tell you, it is a slippery slope. And yes, this is a guy on the digital assets team, so he is living in a crypto world. But still, the fact that this came from Fidelity, which is one of the top five biggest brokerages in the US and one of the largest keepers of 401(k) plans, signals to me the spark of a potential new dangerous chapter. And it's not just this one guy at Fidelity. Blackrock, another huge financial institution, has said that the company expects to see pension funds trading the Bitcoin spot market through ETPs, which stands for exchange-traded products like ETFs, which are exchange-traded funds that we know and love. Bitcoin spot ETPs are investments that mirror the price of Bitcoin and actually hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin spot market ETPs were approved by the SEC in January of this year. Despite my protests, I guess the SEC is not necessarily listening to money rehab. What a shame. And while there's been speculation that Bitcoin ETPs will make crypto investing safer, let's not kid ourselves. Even with these so-called safe options, the underlying asset is still highly, highly speculative.

Pension plans are not supposed to be high-risk, high-reward playgrounds. They are meant to be the most secure. Still, steady part of your financial future. After all, we are talking about money that you'll rely on in your golden years here. And if you're like me, just the thought of tying that to something as volatile as crypto is enough to make you break out into a cold sweat. The The idea of crypto in pension plans seems like mixing oil and water. Pensions are designed to be conservative. They are supposed to grow steadily over time without putting your future at risk. But crypto? It is like the Wild West of investing. One minute you're up, the next minute you're down, sometimes you're way down. Another thing to consider is that the infrastructure for crypto is still in its early days. Traditional assets come with a network of trusted intermediaries like custodian banks that help manage risk. But in the crypto world, that safety net is just starting to develop, which means the risk is higher and less predictable. Do you really want your retirement fund to be the guinea pig in this scenario? I don't. So what do you do if you're as concerned about this as I am?

Well, first things first, it's crucial to understand exactly what's in your pension plan if you have one. A lot of people don't realize that they do have the right to ask their employers for a detailed breakdown of where their pension is invested. But You absolutely do. And it's actually pretty easy. First, contact your HR Department or your pension plan administrator and ask for a detailed statement of your pension investments. This will show you exactly where your money is going. Then once you have the statement, take a closer look at your investment options. Are there any funds that sound unfamiliar? Are you seeing terms like digital assets that raise a red flag? If you're not comfortable with what you see, do not stay silent. You can and should give feedback to your employer. Ask for a meeting with the HR Department to talk about your concerns. It's your money. You have every right to have a say in how it's invested. If your pension plan does start investing in crypto and you are not on board, look into whether your plan offers alternative investment options. Some plans allow you to choose different funds or even opt out of certain investment categories altogether.

At the very least, most pensions and employer-sponsored retirement plans allow you to set your risk tolerance, so you might want to consider asking if there's a certain risk tolerance level that you can select that would prevent your pension from being invested in crypto. If that's the only way to do it, I probably would do it. And then complain. I know no one wants to be a Karen, but if the only way to protect yourself from having crypto in your pension fund is to become a more moderate investor, then you're potentially missing out on higher risk, higher reward stocks that are, yes, risky, but not as risky as crypto. At the end of the day, the idea of crypto in pension plans makes me very nervous, and it should make you think twice, too. Your pension is supposed to be a rock solid foundation for your retirement, not a speculative bet. So please stay informed, keep an eye on what's happening with your money, and don't be afraid to speak up if something is just not sitting right with you. For today's tip, you can take straight to the bank. While you're doing an audit of your retirement plan, see how you're invested in your own company.

Meaning if you're employed at a public company, your retirement account probably owns some of your own company's stock, but you want to make sure you're diversified there. You also may want to see if there are any stocks that you're invested in that you're ethically or politically not aligned with. If you see any investments that you would avoid as an individual investor, you have every right to speak up being part of a company plan. Money Rehab is a production of Money News Network. I'm your host, Nicole Lappin. Money Rehab's executive producer is Morgan LaVoy. Our researcher is Emily Holmes. Do you need some money rehab? And let's be honest, we all do. So email us your moneyquestions, moneyrehab@moneynewsnetwork. Com, to potentially have your questions answered on the show or even have a one-on-one intervention with me. And follow us on Instagram @moneynews and TikTok @moneynewsnetwork for exclusive video content. And lastly, thank you. No, seriously, thank you. Thank you for listening and for investing in yourself, which is the most important investment you can make.