Fed’s 2022 To-Do List | Elon Musk’s Tax Bill | Inaugural Halo 100 List

Plus: Amazon And UPS Are Betting This Electric Aircraft Startup Will Change Shipping

Good morning.

The Federal Reserve announced its new year’s resolutions are all about tightening, tapering, and reducing—here’s how the forecasted interest rate hikes may impact markets. We’re also calculating the size of Elon Musk’s tax bill and inaugurating a new list, the Halo 100, which focuses on brands that deliver the best customer experience. Finally, don’t miss this story about an aviation startup aiming to bring battery-powered cargo planes to America’s skies.

In The News Today

France will introduce a series of “drastic” new travel restrictions on travelers from the U.K., a day after British coronavirus infections were recorded to be the highest since the start of the pandemic.

China’s Covid-19 vaccine maker Sinovac hit back at a study indicating that a double shot offered no antibody response against the omicron coronavirus variant, claiming a booster shot offered 94% protection.

Top Take-Aways

The Federal Reserve said it expects three interest rate hikes next year—one more than announced last month—and three more in 2023, as it announced faster tapering of pandemic-era stimulus measures.

Elon Musk claimed he would be paying more taxes than any American in history this year. Currently the richest person in the world, the Tesla CEO paid little to no tax in previous years, but he might just be right in expecting a large bill from the IRS,

Inspired by philanthropist Chuck Feeney, who donated almost his entire multi-billion dollar fortune to charity in his lifetime, Munich-based HR startup Personio has pledged to donate 1% of the company’s equity to charity—a pledge any new investors will have to contribute to.

Data startup Fishtown Analytics became a unicorn in June and rebranded itself Dbt Labs. Six months later, Dbt Labs is now raising its Series D funding round at a valuation of at least $6 billion—a testament to the frothy market for data companies.

Vaccination verification has become a bigger part of travel, but a lack of federal digital vaccine pass in the U.S., has led individual states to find their own way to provide residents with access to a digital proof of vaccine that can be easily verified.

Which brands deliver the best experience for customers? Forbes partnered with Hundred X to compile the most remarkable examples in its inaugural Halo 100 list, featuring the likes of Toyota, Netflix, Costco and Columbia Sportswear.

Today's Must Read

In Case You Missed It

Disney series Hannah Montana helped Under 30 hall of famer Miley Cyrus earn $134 million by the time she hit 18, according to Forbes’ estimates. But it also didn’t define her, as she has since released eight studio albums that range from psychedelic rock to country-hip-hop. The provocative musician is now taking more control of her entertainment career and platform.

Tips You Can Trust

New year, new career? If you’re thinking of making a big leap, check out these four steps to make your move as efficient and rewarding as possible. 

In honor of trailblazing feminist scholar bell hooks, who died on Wednesday aged 69, here are five of her quotes that inspire a more equitable world.

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