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Here's what happened when a hypothetical $10,000 investment was put to the test over five years

• A MarketWise analysis found that some Pokmon collectibles outperformed Bitcoin, gold, and the S&P 500 over a five-year period.

• Experts say timing matters, and chasing viral investment trends can leave consumers buying after prices have already peaked.

• Whether you're investing in stocks, crypto, or collectibles, understanding what you own and the risks involved is more important than following the latest hype.

When people think about investing, they usually picture stocks, ETFs, or maybe even cryptocurrency.

But what if one of the biggest winners over the past five years wasn't a traditional investment at all?

A new MarketWise analysis compared how a hypothetical $10,000 investment would have performed across 21 different assets between January 2021 and April 2026. The study looked at everything from cryptocurrencies and meme stocks to gold, sneakers, and Pokmon collectibles and some of the results may come as a surprise.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with James Royal, Senior SEO Writer at MarketWise, who broke down what the data reveals, why some unexpected assets outperformed more familiar investments, and what consumers should keep in mind before chasing eye-catching returns.

The key findings

According to Royal, some of the biggest winners werent what youd expect.

A sealed Pokmon card ended up beating Bitcoin, gold, and even the S&P 500 over the time period we analyzed, he explained.

Just because something is driving headlines doesnt mean itll deliver the best returns. We found that several popular AI funds actually trailed a basic S&P 500 index fund. At the end of the day, the timing was crucial. Those who bought the same investment didnt wind up with the same results when they were a few months apart.

What investment lessons can consumers take away?

Royals biggest piece of investing advice: dont buy into the hype you see online.

Dont let viral TikTok videos or headlines convince you that investing is about jumping on the bandwagon and chasing whatever everyone else is buying, he said. Whether its Pokmon cards, crypto, or stocks, people often dive in after prices have already taken off.

On top of that, he encourages consumers to do their homework to get a better understanding of how different investment options work from the inside out/

If youre interested in investing, a good starting point is educating yourself on how assets gain value, understanding the risks involved, and only investing money that you can stand to do without for a while, Royal said. Slow and steady typically beats chasing the latest fad.

Tried-and-true investments such as an S&P 500 index fund have delivered long-term returns for investors for years. However, investing in fads may leave you with worthless cardboard, as traders move on to the next hot thing. So, its important to understand which investments will create lasting value over time.

What to do if youre a Pokemon collector

If you have a box of old Pokemon cards in your house somewhere, dont start tearing into them just yet. Instead, take some time to evaluate what you have.

Sealed products have become more valuable, and specifically, certain cards can be worth far more than you might think, Royal said. Digging around online to check out recent sales or talking with someone at a reputable card shop can save you from potentially giving away something thats worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Additionally, Royal explained that its unlikely that every Pokmon product is going to keep skyrocketing in value forever.

Every collectible market has periods where the energy is running hot, and then prices cool off, he said.

Investing doesnt always look how youd expect

One of the biggest lessons from this experiment: investing isnt always what you expect it to be.

Sometimes its a brokerage account, and sometimes its a collection youve spent years building up, without realizing the financial value it offers, Royal said. Its important to understand what you own before making a decision, and dont be reactive.

Whether its Pokmon cards, sneakers, or stocks, knowledge is typically what separates a wise investment from an expensive mistake.

Jayco, Tiffin, and Ford are part of this week's recall roundup

New provisional data reveal encouraging trends alongside ongoing health challenges

• The overall U.S. age-adjusted death rate declined 4.6% from 2024 to 2025, reaching its lowest recorded level.

• Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries remained the nation's three leading causes of death.

• While death rates fell across all age groups, differences among demographic groups continue to be seen.

New provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that overall mortality in the United States continued to move in a positive direction during 2025.

Although more than three million deaths were recorded during the year, the age-adjusted death rate which accounts for differences in the population's age makeup fell by 4.6% compared with 2024.

According to the report, that marks the lowest age-adjusted death rate ever recorded in the United States. The findings are based on nearly all death records received for 2025, giving researchers an early look at nationwide mortality trends before final numbers are released.

What the new numbers show

The CDC estimates that 3,094,593 people died in the United States during 2025. Death rates declined for every age group compared with the previous year, although they remained highest among adults ages 85 and older and lowest among children ages 5 to 14. Men continued to have higher age-adjusted death rates than women.

Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, followed by cancer and unintentional injuries.

The report also noted a change in the rankings of other causes of death. Influenza and pneumonia moved up to become the eighth leading cause of death in 2025, while suicide moved from the tenth to the eleventh position.

The CDC also found differences among racial and ethnic groups. The lowest age-adjusted death rate was reported for the multiracial non-Hispanic population, while the highest was reported for the Black non-Hispanic population.

Rates declined for several groups, remained statistically unchanged for Asian people, and increased for American Indian and Alaska Native people as well as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander people.

What this means for consumers

For most people, these findings offer a broad snapshot of the nation's health rather than information that changes day-to-day decisions.

The report suggests that overall mortality continued to improve in 2025, even as heart disease and cancer remained the leading causes of death. It also highlights that health outcomes are not uniform across all populations, underscoring the importance of continued public health efforts.

It's also worth remembering that these figures are provisional. The CDC notes that some death records are still being processed, and certain causes of death particularly unintentional injuries can take longer to be finalized.

As additional data become available, some numbers may change, but the report provides an early picture of mortality trends across the country.

Why summer mosquito protection matters more than ever

• West Nile virus activity has started earlier than usual, with the highest number of reported cases by the end of June since 2004.

• Most people who become infected never develop symptoms, but early recognition of illness can help people seek medical care if symptoms appear.

• Simple steps like using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding peak mosquito hours can lower your risk all summer long.

Summer means more time outside, but it also means mosquito season is in full swing.

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says West Nile virus activity has gotten off to an unusually early start. By June 30, 2026, the agency had received reports of 48 human cases, including 38 cases involving severe neurologic disease. That's the highest number of reported infections at this point in the year since 2004.

The virus has already been detected in 23 states, making this the widest early-season activity seen in the past decade. While many people enjoy spending time outdoors throughout the summer, health officials say it's a good reminder that mosquito bite prevention should remain part of warm-weather routines.

"These findings serve as an important reminder that mosquito season is well underway," CDC Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Erin Staples said in a news release.

Why early detection and ongoing prevention matter

One challenge with West Nile virus is that most infected people never develop symptoms. However, about one in five people experience fever along with symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash.

In fewer than 1% of infections, the virus can cause serious neurologic illnesses, including meningitis or encephalitis, which may lead to long-term disability or death.

Adults ages 60 and older, along with people who have certain underlying medical conditions, face a greater risk of severe illness. That's why recognizing symptoms if you become sick during mosquito season and continuing to prevent mosquito bites throughout the summer is so important.

The CDC also notes that prevention doesn't stop with individuals. State and local health departments continue monitoring mosquito populations and carrying out mosquito control efforts where appropriate, while the CDC works with public health partners across the country to track disease activity and provide guidance.

How to reduce your risk this summer

• Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent whenever you're outdoors.

• Wear long, loose-fitting shirts and pants to make it harder for mosquitoes to bite.

• Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when the mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active.

• Keep mosquitoes out by using window and door screens or air conditioning when available.

Why the day you buy gas matters more than you think

• Fill up on Sunday. GasBuddy says Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most states, while Wednesday through Friday are usually the most expensive.

• Avoid price spikes. If prices jump, waiting a few days could save 15 to 45 cents per gallon in states with weekly price cycles.

• Stack your savings. Compare prices with gas apps, use fuel rewards, and check warehouse club stations for even bigger discounts.

If you fill up whenever your gas gauge gets low, you could be paying more than necessary.

According to a new analysis from GasBuddy, Sunday is the cheapest day to buy gas in most U.S. states, while Wednesday through Friday tend to be the most expensive. Simply shifting your fill-up by a day or two could save you $0.04 to $0.09 per gallon without changing anything else about your routine.

That may not sound like much, but over the course of a year, those savings can really add up especially for commuters or families with multiple vehicles.

Why gas prices change during the week

GasBuddy analyzed a year's worth of fuel prices and found that many stations follow a predictable weekly pricing pattern. In many markets, prices gradually climb during the workweek, before easing as the weekend approaches.

Some states including Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, and parts of the West Coast experience what's known as price cycling. Prices jump sharply on one day, then slowly fall over the following several days. If you can avoid filling up right after one of these spikes, you may save $0.15 to $0.45 per gallon by waiting until prices settle back down.

Six easy ways to save at the pump

• Fill up on Sunday: If your schedule allows, make Sunday your regular gas day. Many people commute Monday through Friday, so stations in many markets gradually increase prices during the workweek. By Sunday, prices have often drifted lower after competing for weekend business. If you cant get to the station on Sunday, Monday is often another good option while Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday tends to be the most expensive days to fill-up.

• Use a gas price app: Before leaving home, check an app like GasBuddy, Upside, or AAA Mobile to compare nearby gas stations. As youve probably noticed, prices can vary significantly, even between stations located across the street from each other.

• Don't wait until your tank is nearly empty: Keeping at least a quarter tank of gas gives you the flexibility to wait for a lower-priced day instead of filling up during an expensive midweek spike.

• Stack your discounts: Use grocery store fuel rewards, warehouse club gas stations, gas rewards credit cards, or cashback apps to lower your final price even further.

• Watch for price spikes: If gas prices suddenly jump and you have enough fuel to wait a few days, you may be able to catch the next downward swing, particularly if you live in a state with price cycling.

• Compare warehouse club prices: If you already shop at Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's, check their gas prices before filling up. They're often $0.10 to $0.30 per gallon cheaper than nearby stations, though it's still worth comparing prices to make sure the savings justify any extra driving or waiting.