Today’s founders are building in a fundamentally different environment than any generation before them. Artificial intelligence, global markets, venture capital ecosystems, and digital distribution have erased or greatly diminished traditional barriers to entry and raised expectations for speed and scale. They move quickly, but they build on principles that have defined successful enterprises for generations.

Failure is often viewed as something to avoid. In many environments, business setbacks carry lasting stigma, discouraging future risk-taking. Yet one of America’s enduring entrepreneurial advantages has been a different mindset: the ability to recover, learn, and come back stronger.

America’s economic story is often told through the rise of major industries and breakthrough innovations. But beneath those milestones is a more practical reality: from the beginning, the nation’s growth has been driven by entrepreneurs who approached problems differently and made better decisions because of it.

When Americans think about the nation’s Founding Fathers, that many of these leaders were entrepreneurs is a defining characteristic often overlooked. Their endeavors contributed to the massive economic bet made on hopes and dreams for a successful future of enterprise.

Getting married triggers significant tax changes that catch many couples off guard, from a new filing status that takes effect the moment you say "I do," to withholding gaps that can result in an unexpected tax bill in April. Beyond filing and withholding, newlyweds also need to address name and address updates, healthcare coverage decisions, HSA eligibility changes, and dependent-related credits before year-end. Tackling these adjustments proactively, rather than waiting until tax season, helps couples avoid penalties, protect their refunds, and start their financial life together on solid footing.