Dear valued client,
2025 got off to a slow start as markets slid about half a percentage point.
Early Wednesday, a horrific incident unfolded on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street where a driver, identified as 42-year-old Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowd celebrating New Year’s Eve. Jabbar then engaged in a shootout with police, wearing body armor and wielding a weapon, which resulted in him being fatally shot. The attack left at least 15 people dead and over 35 injured. Jabbar had a minor criminal history with arrests for theft and driving with an invalid license. He had worked at major consultancies Deloitte and Accenture after obtaining an IT degree from Georgia State University. The scene was also marked by the presence of apparent explosive devices and an ISIS flag in the truck, leading the FBI to treat the incident as a terrorist attack, suspecting Jabbar had accomplices. This event led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl game between Notre Dame and the University of Georgia by 24 hours.
Also on Wednesday, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of the person inside the vehicle and injuries to seven others nearby. The vehicle was found to contain gasoline canisters, fuel canisters, and large mortar fireworks. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that they knew who rented the truck but withheld the name pending notification of next of kin. Both this Cybertruck and the one involved in the New Orleans attack were rented via Turo, a car-sharing app. The FBI, with assistance from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who provided video from Tesla charging stations, is investigating whether this was an act of terrorism, exploring potential links to the New Orleans incident. Musk clarified on X that the explosion was due to “very large fireworks and or a bomb” in the truck’s bed, unrelated to the vehicle itself. The hotel was evacuated following the explosion.
As we step into a new year, many of us are setting New Years resolutions to better our lives. If you have new financial goals you intend to work towards this year, please reply to this email to discuss them in more detail.
Stay safe. Have a good weekend.
PW
