Fifty years ago, W. M. Kiplinger—our first editor in chief—wrote a special Kiplinger Letter that looked much further out than the forecasts he and his staff made every week for their clients, as we still do today.
In the form of “A Letter to a Grandson” (all six of his grandchildren were boys, including me, then 15 years old), he forecast sweeping developments in demography, economics, politics and technology—trends that he deemed likely in our lives. His foresight proved to be uncanny.
There were many hits and a few misses. The last few decades did see the eventual arrival of fuel cells, microwave ovens, a moon landing, live global TV broadcasts, irradiated food, phones you can carry in your pocket, flat-screen TVs on the wall, and plastic plumbing.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Not yet here but coming soon: self-guiding cars. Probably not coming soon: passenger jets that can span the oceans and continents in 90 minutes. (The Concorde supersonic jetliner of the ‘80s was the last of its breed—at least for now, due to cost and environmental constraints.) Yes, “wonder drugs and vaccines,” but not yet a cure for all cancers and the common cold.
As editor in chief today, I want to share this special letter with you, for the here-and-now benefit of its analysis and advice. Perhaps you will wish to share it with your children and grandchildren, too, to show them how much has changed in the last 50 years.
Best wishes for the new year,
Knight Kiplinger
-
New $6,000 'Senior Bonus' Deduction: What It Means for Those Over Age 65Tax Changes If you’re an older adult, a new bonus tax deduction could provide a valuable tax benefit. Here's how it works.
-
Walmart Plus Members Will Soon Have Their Choice Between Two Streaming ServicesDiscover which streaming service is coming to the platform.
-
AI Start-ups Are Rolling in CashThe Kiplinger Letter Investors are plowing record sums of money into artificial intelligence start-ups. Even as sales grow swiftly, losses are piling up for AI firms.
-
What is AI Worth to the Economy?The Letter Spending on AI is already boosting GDP, but will the massive outlays being poured into the technology deliver faster economic growth in the long run?
-
Kiplinger Special Report: Business Costs for 2026Economic Forecasts Fresh forecasts for 2026, to help you plan ahead and prepare a budget on a range of business costs, from Kiplinger's Letters team.
-
Trump-Era Regulations Will Broaden Access to CryptoThe Kiplinger Letter The president wants to make the U.S. the leader in digital assets.
-
How to Adopt AI and Keep Employees Happy
The Kiplinger Letter As business adoption of AI picks up, employee morale could take a hit. But there are ways to avoid an AI backlash.
-
The Rise of AI: A Kiplinger Special ReportThe Kiplinger Letter Our special report looks at the opportunities and challenges of generative AI and how its rapid move into the mainstream is impacting every aspect of our lives.
-
Big Changes Are Ahead for Higher EdThe Kiplinger Letter A major reform of higher ed is underway. Colleges are bracing for abrupt change, financial headwinds and uncertainty.
-
AI-Powered Smart Glasses Set to Make a Bigger SplashThe Kiplinger Letter Meta leads the way with its sleek, fashionable smart glasses, but Apple reportedly plans to join the fray by late 2026. Improved AI will lure more customers.
