Older – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Sat, 30 Aug 2025 20:58:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Older – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 This Is the Average 401(k) Balance for Retirees Age 60 and Older https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-is-the-average-401k-balance-for-retirees-age-60-and-older/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-is-the-average-401k-balance-for-retirees-age-60-and-older/#respond Sat, 30 Aug 2025 20:58:05 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-is-the-average-401k-balance-for-retirees-age-60-and-older/ A 401(k) is a common type of retirement account that employers offer to their workforce.

The 401(k) account is one of the most common retirement savings accounts that employers offer their workers. Employees are able to contribute pre-tax dollars to these accounts and invest them tax-deferred. Only when withdrawals are made do the account holders pay taxes at their ordinary tax rate.

Employers have the option to offer some kind of matching contribution, usually up to a set percentage of each employee’s salary. Employer contributions are deductible up to a certain point.

With everyone making different salaries and employers having different policies for their 401(k) plans, it’s natural for workers to wonder how much they should save as they approach retirement. While there is no single right answer, available data can help you gauge where you stand.

Person looking at laptop and holding documents.

Image source: Getty Images.

The average 401(k) balance for retirees age 60 and older

While several companies provide data on the average 401(k) balance, I like to use Fidelity when I can, given the company’s size and reputation in the space.

At the end of 2024, Fidelity looked at 401(k) data from 26,700 corporate defined contribution plans that included 24.5 million participants. The company found that the average 401(k) balance was $246,500 for ages 60 to 64, $251,400 for ages 65 to 69, and $250,000 for ages 70 and over.

Fidelity actually recommends saving much more than this amount. In prior articles, the company has suggested having eight times your annual salary by age 60 and 10 times your annual salary by age 67. With median annual earnings for a full-time U.S. worker above $50,000, Fidelity’s recommendation is far higher than the approximately $250,000 average balance for its plan participants near retirement.

But again, there’s always a difference between advice and reality. Retirees should also understand that an average number among tens of millions of people captures so many different scenarios. Ultimately, retirees should think about the lifestyle they want in retirement and work with a financial advisor or on their own to determine how much they need to support that lifestyle.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/this-is-the-average-401k-balance-for-retirees-age-60-and-older/feed/ 0 55940 5 reasons why GPT-5 is actually better than the older GPT models https://earlybirdsinvest.com/5-reasons-why-gpt-5-is-actually-better-than-the-older-gpt-models/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/5-reasons-why-gpt-5-is-actually-better-than-the-older-gpt-models/#respond Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:27:22 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/5-reasons-why-gpt-5-is-actually-better-than-the-older-gpt-models/
The Chat-GPT Android app, showing a welcome screen for GPT-5.

Joe Maring / Android Authority

Recently, OpenAI has come under fire for GPT-5’s rocky launch. Many users have called it a step backward, citing a lack of personality and other tweaks that turned people off — sentiments echoed in our own GPT-5 review. Still, GPT-5 does improve on at least some of the previous legacy models.

Before we dive in, it’s important to note that GPT-5 really does have less personality. It’s curt and to the point in nearly every interaction. This makes it much less useful for creative writing, personal assistance, companionship, and even editing, as it tends to strip too much personality from drafts. Still, for some tasks, this curt personality works well and is exactly what you want. If you’re doing high-level work like deep research or trying to understand ethical or scientific concepts, you want answers that are honest and direct.

For ChatGPT Plus users, I can’t blame you if you switch back to an older model for creative work, personal assistance, or similar tasks. Don’t discount it entirely, though. While the default GPT-5 relies on automatic switching to figure out the best model for your query, you always have the option to switch to GPT-5 Thinking.

Let’s take a closer look at a few ways in which GPT-5 Thinking actually improves on older thinking models, including 03 and 04-high-mini.

For those with GPT-5 Thinking access, how do you feel about it?

1 votes

Ironically, GPT-5 has more personality than the legacy thinking models

gpt 5 love this prompt

Andrew Grush / Android Authority

Even though GPT-5 seems more blunt and less friendly compared to GPT-4o, I’ve found it actually shows more personality than 03, 04-mini-high, and other legacy thinking models.

For example, when brainstorming alternate Byzantine history with both 03 and GPT-5, 03 dove right in with no warmth, while GPT-5 started with a conversational, though slightly sycophantic, tone: “Love this prompt. The trick is to keep changes small, targeted, and compounding.” GPT-5 kept that conversational style throughout, while 03 was sterile and preferred to drown me in tables instead of providing a more conversational and readable breakdown.

GPT-5 feels like a middle ground between 4o’s personality and 03’s sterility. Whether that’s better or worse will depend on the user.

GPT-5 feels more alive by comparison, which makes it better for exploring philosophical or scientific ideas or even for spitballing alternate reality scenarios like this nerd does in his spare time. Not every use case will benefit from this shift, but it’s a notable difference.

GPT-5’s chain of thought is often deeper and clearer

gpt thinking chain

Andrew Grush / Android Authority

I really love how GPT-5 Thinking handled its chain of thoughts compared to the older thinking models. In my tests, GPT-5 Thinking not only spent longer on queries, but also offered more detailed and readable chains of thought than 03.

On the alt-Byzantine Empire scenario I was recently working on for a short story, 03 spent four seconds and gave a brief answer. GPT-5 Thinking took 47 seconds and returned five bullets, each nearly a full paragraph, feeling much more like an internal monologue.

As for the actual results? Both gave me food for thought, even if neither was perfect. I will say that I fact-checked as many of its statements as I could, and, generally, the speculation was fairly balanced between the two models. Still, I found it easier to understand and read GPT-5’s responses in most cases.

It often gets the same answer faster than 03 did

ChatGPT Plus app stock photo 46

Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

When it comes to detailed queries, I feel that GPT-5 tends to think for longer,  but direct questions are a whole other matter. If the answer is simple, GPT-5 tends to be the first to deliver a response.

For example, when I asked what happened to Nintendo on January 5, 1993, both GPT-03 and GPT-5 Thinking pointed to the same court decision, but GPT-03 took over two minutes to get there, while GPT-5 answered in just 40 seconds. I admit I was actually trying to trick one of them into hallucinating, so at least that didn’t happen!

This is just one example, but in the week or so that I’ve been using GPT-5, I’ve found that when used side by side, GPT-03’s creative thinking sometimes holds it back from answering as quickly and directly.

GPT-5 trades its creativity for fewer hallucinations

gpt loop thoughts

Andrew Grush / Android Authority

Many people say that GPT-5 is less creative, and that’s mostly true even in the Thinking model. I revisited some of my old chats about Stoicism and other philosophical concepts from earlier this year (which were originally generated with 03 or 04-mini-high) and asked GPT-5 the same questions. Its responses were more contained, less speculative, and more fact-based.

Being less creative also means GPT-5 Thinking is less likely to make stuff up by comparison.

For certain creative endeavors, I can see how GPT-5’s more sterile approach might be a hindrance, but these creative bursts also lead to more incorrect answers. Taking a closer look at the same older responses for 03 and digging deep online to verify as much as I could, I found some of these creative solutions were completely based on false premises. That’s been a much less common experience with GPT-5.

Ultimately, at least for the kinds of tasks and questions I ask, I care more about historical and scientific accuracy than anything. I also prefer not having to fact-check every detail as vigorously.

It tends to follow instructions better as well

gpt 5 header with easter egg

Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

At least in my experience, GPT-5 is less likely to go rogue than older models when it comes to following instructions. With GPT-03 and its legacy relatives, it was common to see it ignore or misunderstand parts of my instructions. GPT-5, on the other hand, does a much better job of doing exactly what I ask.

For example, I’ll often add “be honest with me” when asking a question that could get a sycophantic or overly optimistic response. With 03, it will usually listen, but sometimes goes along with my idea even when I know it’s not well-baked and makes false connections that aren’t really there. With GPT-5, I usually get a tad more pushback in these situations.

In a funny twist, if I don’t give clear instructions or don’t explicitly ask for extra critical or honest responses, GPT-5 can sometimes sweet-talk or go off-script a bit more than 03 ever did. I’ve had to rethink how I prompt GPT-5 compared to 03, but with clearer instructions, I get better results than 03 could produce in most scenarios.

The takeaway here is that when it comes to straight-up problems like “prove this” or “explain this,” GPT-5 often delivers more impressive results. For more conversational or creative needs, it’s a roll of the dice as to which model will provide the best answer.

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You shouldn’t give up on GPT-5 yet, even if it’s not perfect

ChatGPT stock photo 73

Calvin Wankhede / Android Authority

I won’t pretend that GPT-5 wasn’t a mess at launch or that it doesn’t still need refinement before it’s ready for primetime — especially as a replacement for GPT-4o and other legacy models.

As it stands, I see GPT-5 as a complement that works well in some cases, but it’s not my default. To be fair, I’ve never been the kind to have a default in the first place. I use different models for specific tasks, and I don’t see that changing unless OpenAI removes legacy models again.

Ultimately, GPT-5 was overhyped, so it was always going to feel disappointing. The fact that it seems to lose context a bit more easily than older models is also a concern, and I’m not sold on the idea of unifying everything under one automatic model.

That said, don’t let this turn you off completely. While it’s not perfect, there are use cases where GPT-5 fits better than older models, and there are features like Agent Mode that you can’t get with older models. I recommend using GPT-5 Thinking alongside other models for as long as possible. Figure out what it does well for you, as you might be surprised if you give it enough of a chance.

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]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/5-reasons-why-gpt-5-is-actually-better-than-the-older-gpt-models/feed/ 0 53797 Samsung rolls out April updates to older Galaxy Watch models https://earlybirdsinvest.com/samsung-rolls-out-april-updates-to-older-galaxy-watch-models/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/samsung-rolls-out-april-updates-to-older-galaxy-watch-models/#respond Thu, 01 May 2025 15:40:41 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/samsung-rolls-out-april-updates-to-older-galaxy-watch-models/

What you need to know

  • Samsung’s April update with a March security patch is now available for Galaxy Watch 6, 5, and 4 series in Korea and the U.S., following an initial release for the Watch 7 and Ultra.
  • The update, around 500MB depending on the model, focuses on security and stability enhancements.
  • More regions are expected to get the latest firmware in the coming weeks.

Samsung is rolling out new updates to a few of its Galaxy Watch models this week across regions, including Korea and the U.S.

In its April update, the Korean OEM seems to have snuck in a (via 9to5Google) March security patch as well. The update first started rolling out for the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Ultra model early last month; however, it now appears to be a wider rollout as it is reaching older Galaxy Watch models for regions starting with Korea and also in the U.S.

Galaxy Watch April 2025 update

(Image credit: Michael L Hicks/ Android Central)

Per multiple reports, the Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 5, and Watch 4 series will be receiving this One UI 6-based update that measures around 500MB or more, depending on the watch model.

While the firmware brings the older March security patch, the changelog indicates that it also includes stability improvements next to security improvements. As the update just began the roll out, it is expected to reach more regions in the coming weeks.

Galaxy Watch April 2025 update

(Image credit: Michael L Hicks/ Android Central)

In other Galaxy Watch news, a new leak has shared some information on what to expect from the next Ultra smartwatch from Samsung. Tentatively named Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, it is tipped to be launching alongside the upcoming foldables — the Galaxy Fold 7 and the Flip 7 — with the Unpacked event likely happening in July. The leak has further mentioned that there won’t be any significant changes when it comes to the Ultra watch design and pricing.

However, the leak has also indicated that some notable changes can be seen when it comes to storage space — more of it is expected on the Ultra 2, and a new interface reminiscent of One UI 7 will also likely be included. With improved storage and perhaps a more user-friendly UI, the smartwatch might sport the same squircle look as the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/samsung-rolls-out-april-updates-to-older-galaxy-watch-models/feed/ 0 33821 Bitcoin mining revenues fall to critical level for older miners as fee income slides post-halving https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-mining-revenues-fall-to-critical-level-for-older-miners-as-fee-income-slides-post-halving/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-mining-revenues-fall-to-critical-level-for-older-miners-as-fee-income-slides-post-halving/#respond Thu, 01 May 2025 14:10:17 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-mining-revenues-fall-to-critical-level-for-older-miners-as-fee-income-slides-post-halving/

Bitcoin miner revenues have compressed sharply since the April 2024 halving.

Transaction fees currently contribute around 1.48% of block rewards, near the lowest share since 2023.

The decline highlights a growing reliance on subsidy income, which dropped to 3.125 BTC per block following the halving.

Bitcoin fees as percentage of block subsidy (Source: Bitbo)
Bitcoin fees as percentage of block subsidy (Source: Bitbo)

Hashprice has also remained stagnant.

At $48.9 per PH/s/day in late April, miner revenue failed to track Bitcoin’s spot price near $95,000. This dynamic has left power-hungry mining rigs operating at a loss. Units running between 25-38 J/TH earned about $0.06 per kWh, falling short of grid costs estimated at $0.08.

Hashprice chart (Source: Hashrateindex)
Hashprice chart (Source: Hashrateindex)

Fee spikes from Ordinals and Runes activity proved temporary. Despite surging to $127 per transaction during Runes’ April 2024 launch, average fees have since collapsed below $2.

The fading blockspace demand raises concerns about the sustainability of transaction-driven miner income. While 650 million users now have indirect access to Lightning Network channels, off-chain transactions have not materially boosted block rewards.

Developers are watching OP_CAT and CTV soft-fork proposals as potential catalysts. Galaxy Research expects consensus by 2025, though activation timelines remain uncertain.

Stress scenarios highlight miner vulnerability. With Bitcoin priced at $96,000 and fee income at 1%, nearly 35% of the network could face negative cash flow at standard electricity rates.

CryptoSlate modeling using Luxor hashprice and Coin Metrics ASIC-mix data shows that at an $85k BTC price and fees stuck at 1 % of the block reward, roughly a third of installed hashpower would operate below cash-flow breakeven at $0.08 /kWh.

At $96k, Bitcoin’s price rally shaves the pain, but one in five hashes is still unprofitable if the fee share stays pinned at 1 %. The subsidy alone can’t keep mid-gen rigs humming on $0.08 power for long, highlighting just how fee-sensitive post-halving miner margins have become.

Older ASICs could pause first, driving fleet upgrades and testing Bitcoin’s decentralization. Without stronger fee markets or new demand cycles, the post-halving environment is tightening margins industry-wide.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-mining-revenues-fall-to-critical-level-for-older-miners-as-fee-income-slides-post-halving/feed/ 0 33808 Older Americans Hit Hard by Crypto Scams, FBI’s IC3 Reports $2.8 Billion Losses https://earlybirdsinvest.com/older-americans-hit-hard-by-crypto-scams-fbis-ic3-reports-2-8-billion-losses/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/older-americans-hit-hard-by-crypto-scams-fbis-ic3-reports-2-8-billion-losses/#respond Mon, 28 Apr 2025 01:23:24 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/older-americans-hit-hard-by-crypto-scams-fbis-ic3-reports-2-8-billion-losses/

In its 2024 annual report, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) revealed a sharp rise in the number and severity of cryptocurrency-related fraud cases.

Over the course of the year, the IC3 recorded over 140,000 complaints linked to cryptocurrency, which led to staggering financial losses of $9.3 billion.

Alarming Trend

A significant portion of these losses came from individuals aged 60 and above, who filed roughly 33,000 complaints and suffered a combined total of $2.8 billion in losses. This age group also saw the largest increase in both reported complaints and financial harm.

The IC3’s report also noted a dramatic year-over-year increase in losses – 66% higher than in 2023, when total losses amounted to $5.6 billion. Investment scams involving cryptocurrency were the primary source of these losses, but the report also highlighted other schemes such as sextortion, where criminals manipulate personal content to coerce victims into sending money, and fraud involving crypto ATMs.

Additionally, ransomware attacks, which had been a recurring issue, showed a 9% rise in 2024, thereby posing a growing threat to critical infrastructure. Overall, fraud and crypto scams were the most significant contributors to the rise in reported cybercrimes, with older individuals particularly vulnerable to these high-stakes digital fraud schemes.

On the other hand, pig butchering scams, which were once mainly targeted at older adults, are now increasingly affecting younger individuals, particularly those aged 30 to 49. A recent study by Cyvers examined 150 major crypto platforms, revealing over 200,000 scam incidents and $5.5 billion in losses in 2024.

The research focused on Ethereum-based scams and uncovered significant fraud across various platforms, including major exchanges, a crypto-friendly bank, and institutional trading platforms. The scale of impact varied, but the trend is clear: younger people are becoming the prime victims.

Operation Level Up

‘Operation Level Up’ was thus initiated with the assistance of FBI agents and the US Secret Service to address the growing issue of cryptocurrency investment fraud. Pig butchering involves fraudsters building online relationships with victims and convincing them to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform.

As a result of this operation, a total of 4,323 individuals affected by cryptocurrency investment fraud were informed of the scam. Of these victims, 76% were unaware they had fallen victim to fraud. The estimated financial savings for these victims amounted to $285.6 million. Additionally, 42 victims were referred to an FBI victim specialist for support regarding potential suicidal thoughts.

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]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/older-americans-hit-hard-by-crypto-scams-fbis-ic3-reports-2-8-billion-losses/feed/ 0 33181 Forget iOS 18.4, your older iPhones and Macs need an update this weekend too https://earlybirdsinvest.com/forget-ios-18-4-your-older-iphones-and-macs-need-an-update-this-weekend-too/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/forget-ios-18-4-your-older-iphones-and-macs-need-an-update-this-weekend-too/#respond Sun, 06 Apr 2025 11:31:21 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/forget-ios-18-4-your-older-iphones-and-macs-need-an-update-this-weekend-too/

If you have a new iPhone or Mac, there are plenty of reasons to go update to iOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4, but users of older devices might not be so quick to hit the download button. But these updates are especially important—Apple has patched a pair of vulnerabilities originally fixed in iOS 18.3.1 and 18.3.2 and five dozen fixes for newer phones and Macs.

In iOS 16.7.11 (compatible with iPhones 6-13) and iOS 15.8.4 (compatible with iPhones 8-14), Apple issued a pair of security updates to fix zero-days previously exploited in the wild. Apple previously addressed the flaws in iOS 18.3.1 (Accessibility) and 18.3.2 (WebKit) for newer iPhones, but they remained exploitable in older phones until this week.

Apple also patched an actively exploited CoreMedia flaw in older iPads and Macs that was first fixed in iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3.

Apple says the vulnerabilities were used in “extremely sophisticated” attacks, meaning hackers targeted high-level individuals in government or business. However, as long as the flaw remains open on your devices, there is still a risk that it could be exploited with lower-level malware, so we recommend updating as soon as possible. See our tests of the best Mac antivirus programs for more security options.

Apple also issued a few dozen security fixes for newer iPhones and Macs with iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4, as well as updates to iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro so no matter what Apple device you own, go update this weekend before it’s too late. 

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/forget-ios-18-4-your-older-iphones-and-macs-need-an-update-this-weekend-too/feed/ 0 29309 Pokémon Meets AI: Claude 3.7 Sonnet Wins Faster Than Older Models https://earlybirdsinvest.com/pokemon-meets-ai-claude-3-7-sonnet-wins-faster-than-older-models/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/pokemon-meets-ai-claude-3-7-sonnet-wins-faster-than-older-models/#respond Sun, 02 Mar 2025 12:34:12 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/pokemon-meets-ai-claude-3-7-sonnet-wins-faster-than-older-models/

Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, has taken on a new challenge—playing Pokémon.

According to the company, this AI version can defeat in-game opponents much faster than its predecessors.

In a February 25 post on X, Anthropic shared that an early version of Claude 3.7 Sonnet managed to beat its first major opponent, Brock, within hours of starting. A few days later, it won against Misty. The company noted that older AI models struggled with this level of progress.

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Claude 3.7 Sonnet plays by keeping track of what happens in the game, analyzing the screen, and using function calls to make moves.

Unlike previous models, which often got stuck or wandered aimlessly, this version plans its moves carefully and adjusts its strategy as it plays.

The company also linked to a Twitch channel called “ClaudePlaysPokemon”, where people can watch the AI in action. They explained that small adjustments helped the model “see” the screen better, which allowed it to play more effectively.

Anthropic added that the company sees the Claude 3.7 Sonnet’s ability as an early sign of AI tackling challenges more effectively, using not just training but also general reasoning abilities.

Recently, a video shared on X of two AI agents talking to each other caught people’s attention. Why? Read the full story.

Aaron S. Editor-In-Chief

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.

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