The price of oil is skyrocketing— and the ripple effects are spreading fast. Today, Nicole sits down with Lauren Simmons, former trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, to break down exactly what's driving market volatility right now and what you should actually be doing with your money. Lauren and Nicole get into why the Petrodollar system is cracking, whether the U.S. dollar is still a safe haven (Lauren's honest answer might surprise you), and where big institutional investors are quietly moving their money. Lauren also opens up about her own portfolio — why she put 10% into gold and silver, why she's steering clear of Bitcoin, and her take on the AI bubble question. This episode was taped on 3.26.26. Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram Check out Lauren’s personal finance book Make Money Move Here's what Nicole covers with Lauren: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:18 Why Oil Prices Are Exploding Right Now 01:24 Why Americans Pay Global Oil Prices No Matter What 02:01 The Petrodollar System Explained 03:25 Is the Dollar's Reign as Safe Haven Over? 06:13 Why Volatile Markets Are Actually Wealth-Building Opportunities 07:35 Brent Crude 101 09:00 How Often Should You Actually Check Your Portfolio? 10:09 How Much Oil Should Be in Your Portfolio? 11:36 Why Lauren Is Skeptical of the Dollar Right Now 13:19 Gold, Silver, and Lauren's Actual Portfolio 15:06 How to Start Investing in Metals ETFs 15:55 Bitcoin: Bullish or Bearish? 17:10 The Crypto Wash Sale Rule Loophole Nicole Is Using 20:07 Could the Dollar Lose Reserve Currency Status? 22:00 International ETFs as a Dollar Hedge (VXUS) 22:12 Defense and Energy Stocks: XLE and Dividend Strategy 26:00 How to Invest With Your Values (ESG and Its Limits) 28:39 What Sectors Lauren Is Bullish On Right Now 29:00 Why Lauren Is Avoiding Pure-Play AI Stocks 31:00 Is There an AI Bubble? 33:00 The Energy Problem Powering (and Threatening) AI 34:53 Lauren Simmons' Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.