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• Eric Rosenberg signed up for a $1 million life insurance policy in his late 20s before starting a family.
• He based his insurance amount on his annual income and made sure to get multiple quotes before choosing a policy.
• He chose term life insurance, which tends to be a better fit for most people since it gives you the most insurance coverage at the lowest possible cost.
• Insurance comparison site Policygenius can help you find the right policy for you, at the right price »

Life insurance is an important part of any long-term financial plan.

If anything happens to you, life insurance ensures your family can weather the financial loss of your regular income. Before I had kids, I found myself a $1 million life insurance policy.

Let's walk through how I picked that life insurance and what I would do if I were doing it again today.

First, I decided term life insurance was right for me

When getting started, life insurance can be intimidating. There are different kinds of life insurance with different features. In general, the best type of life insurance for most people is term life insurance. Term life is the lowest cost for the most coverage in most cases.

Whole life insurance includes an investment component, but you can often do better separating your investments and insurance to get the best from both rather than an expensive, mediocre product that tries to do both. Whole life can make sense for some situations, but overall term life, is best in most cases.

Then, I multiplied my annual income to estimate my coverage needs

I picked my life insurance when I was around 28 years old. At that point, I knew I was going to have kids at some point and life insurance would only get more expensive if I waited. Typically the cost of insurance goes up as you get older, so the best deal you're going to get is right now in most cases.

Our partner Policygenius can help you compare policies and rates »

At that point, I took my annual income, multiplied by 10, and added a buffer on top. That led me to a $1 million policy. Many people would multiply their annual expenses by 10 rather than their income, but I estimated my expenses would go up when my family started to grow. You may also want to add in coverage for things like paying off a mortgage, paying for college costs, or other major financial goals for your family.

I shopped around for the best deal

There are a few ways to get life insurance. Online aggregators like Select Quote and Policygenius are a great choice. I wanted to get help from someone I knew who was an expert in life insurance, so I went to my friend Jeff Rose of the blog Good Financial Cents, a licensed insurance agent who could help me shop around for the best deal.

He ran my information through a system that gave the best deal for my specific needs and the policy I wanted. The insurance company sent a nurse to my home on a Sunday morning for a quick exam and I had my insurance offer shortly after.

Due to childhood asthma, I didn't get the very best rate possible. I qualified for the second tier, which put my cost for a $1 million policy at $78 per month. That is a pretty good deal for so much coverage.

If I were going to do it today, I'd get a bigger policy

If I were going to get life insurance today, I would go through a similar process. However, these days my income and expenses have both gone up, as I expected. But based on my new numbers, I would have picked even more coverage than that $1 million. If I were going for a do-over today, it would be for a higher amount.

Now I do have those kids I was planning on, and I would definitely add coverage to help with their college and our expensive California mortgage. But I don't regret getting life insurance for a moment. It was a great decision and one I implore more parents to follow.

Our partner Policygenius can help you find the policy and the rate that's right for you »

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Warren Buffett, the third-richest person in the world, is also one of the most frugal billionaires. Here's how he makes and spends his fortune.

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here. Current subscribers can read the report here.

Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are vital creators of wealth, income, and jobs in the global economy. For example, they make up 99.9% of all private sector businesses in both the US and the UK, and they employ 60% and 48% of all workers in those countries, respectively.

The income and assets of these businesses make them an irreplaceable customer base for financial institutions. However, incumbent financial institutions are falling short of SMBs' lending wants and needs.

Fintechs — including alt lenders, payment providers, and lending platforms — are changing the SMB lending space by filling that gap and capturing an increasingly large sliver of the SMB lending market. For example, alternative financial providers only accounted for 2%, or £11.5 billion ($14.7 billion), of the UK SMB lending market in 2018. However, their share is projected to surge to 9.1%, worth £52.6 billion ($67.4 billion), by 2021.

In the SMB Lending Report, Business Insider Intelligence will examine the key players in the SMB lending space, determine the advantages of each player, and discuss how incumbents can improve their offerings to better serve SMBs and stave off the growing competition from alt lenders in the space. Additionally, we will look at what the future of SMB lending will hold.

The companies mentioned in this report are: NatWest, BNP Paribas, Esme Loans, OnDeck, ING, Kabbage, Funding Circle, Lending Club, PayPal, Square, Lendio, ING, Funding Options, INTRUST Bank, Behalf, Lending Express, and Fundbox, among others.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• SMBs are underserved by conventional lenders, so fintechs are increasingly offering digital services tailored to meet SMBs' wants and needs.
• Some incumbents have already woken up to the opportunity of better serving SMBs and leveraging this revenue stream, but the majority are still unaware.
• This has given fintechs the opportunity to grow their market share among SMBs. If incumbents don't fight back with their own digital services, they will like lose further share to fintechs. 
• There are three main ways incumbents can revamp their SMB lending products, each of which requires a different level of effort: partnering with fintechs, developing tech-enabled solutions in-house, or launching their own challenger products. 

 In full, the report:

• Outlines the current state of the SMB lending space.
• Details the different players that are involved in SMB lending.
• Explains three ways in which incumbents can up their SMB lending game and fight off competition.
• Highlights the benefits and hurdles that come with each of those strategies.
  
• Discusses what the future of the SMB lending space will hold.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >>Purchase & Download Now
2. Subscribe to a Premium pass to Business Insider Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and more than 250 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you've given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of SMB lending.

Join the conversation about this story »

• 2019 is shaping up to be a big year in gaming.
• Things are already popping off with the launch of a long-awaited sequel, "Kingdom Hearts 3," which arrived in late January, and the explosively popular "Apex Legends" in March.
• But that's just the beginning — major games are expected in 2019: "The Last of Us Part II" on PlayStation 4 and a brand new "Pokémon" game for the Nintendo Switch are highlights of the year.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

2018 is fading into the past, and we're already in the midst of 2019's major video game launches. 

The year started with a trip into the worlds of Disney with the long-awaited arrival of "Kingdom Hearts 3" in January, followed closely by the surprise announcement and release of the wildly popular "Apex Legends" in March.

And that's just the first quarter of the year! Here's a look at 2019 in games:

SEE ALSO: The best new game of 2019 is a free-to-play Battle Royale shooter that came out of nowhere

1. "Resident Evil 2" (re-mastered)

The long-awaited remake of fan-favorite horror classic "Resident Evil 2" arrived early in 2019.

"Resident Evil 2" introduced the world to Leon S. Kennedy (seen above) — the main character in "Resident Evil 4." Kennedy and Claire Redfield find themselves in the middle of a surprise zombie outbreak in the fictional town of Raccoon City. It's an action-packed introduction to many of the major themes of the "Resident Evil" franchise, and it's getting gorgeously remade for modern consoles.

Check out our full review of "Resident Evil 2" right here.

Release Date: January 25, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

2. "Kingdom Hearts 3"

Woody, Buzz, Rex and the rest of the "Toy Story" gang moved from film to video games with "Kingdom Hearts 3," an Xbox One and PlayStation 4 action-adventure game.

The game was the long-anticipated third entry in the "Kingdom Hearts" series — the last major entry, "Kingdom Hearts 2," launched all the way back in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. In "Kingdom Hearts," various Disney characters and their worlds are mashed up with characters that would be right at home in a "Final Fantasy" game.

Alongside the cast of "Toy Story" (and their Earth-like setting), "Kingdom Hearts 3" also stars Goofy and Donald Duck. You may have noticed a third character here — that's "Sora," the main character of "Kingdom Hearts 3" and who you play as.

Check out our full review of "Kingdom Hearts 3" right here.

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One

3. "Apex Legends"

On paper, "Apex Legends" sounds a lot like "Fortnite."

It's a free-to-play shooter centered around a Battle Royale mode! It's available on several gaming platforms! It's full of colorful loot!

In reality, "Apex Legends" is a very different game in the same genre as "Fortnite."

If you've spent any time with the "Titanfall" games, you'll feel at least some tinge of familiarity with "Apex Legends."

There's a simple reason for that: "Apex Legends" is made by Respawn Entertainment, the EA-owned studio that made the "Titanfall" games. In fact, "Apex Legends" is sort of a "Titanfall" game, albeit one without wall-running or giant, hulking robot suits.

What it lacks in that stuff, it keeps in excellent first-person shooting. Above all else, "Apex Legends" is a really, really great multiplayer first-person shooter.

Yes, it's a Battle Royale game. And yes, it's a free-to-play game, with all the baggage that phrase comes with. But, more than any of that stuff, "Apex Legends" is a best-in-class first-person shooter.

Check out our full review of "Apex Legends" right here.

Release Date: February 4, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

4. "Far Cry New Dawn"

A new "Far Cry" game? Didn't one of those come out, like, in 2018?

Yep! That game was "Far Cry 5," and it came out back in late March 2018 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The open-world first-person shooter was set in America for the first time ever, and featured a new antagonist: a maniacal cult leader with nuclear ambitions.

"Far Cry New Dawn" is a sequel to that game, set in a post-apocalypse Montana 17 years after the events of "Far Cry 5." The trailer alludes to a period of extreme weather following a nuclear detonation, eventually leading to a new world — a world where people shoot saw blades from crossbows, apparently.

Release Date: February 15, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

5. "Crackdown 3"

"Crackdown 3" was in the works for years, having been delayed multiple times.

As the name implies, it's the third game in the open-world, third-person action "Crackdown" series. The series is big on mobility — allowing you to go anywhere you want — and huge explosions. The third game in the series is no different in this respect.

Check out our full review of "Crackdown 3" right here.

Release Date: February 15, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

6. "Anthem"

Remember "Mass Effect"? How about "Dragon Age," or "The Knights of the Old Republic"?

That trio of blockbusters came from the folks at EA's BioWare studios — the same people behind next year's "Anthem," an all-new action-RPG. Like "Destiny," BioWare's "Anthem" is played online and focuses on players grouping up to collectively take on missions.

Each player has the ability to fly through the air, Iron Man-style, whenever they want. It adds a layer of exploration that makes it unlike anything else available.

Frankly speaking, while the game looks gorgeous, I found it to be a vacuous, aggressively boring game.

Check out our full review of "Anthem" right here.

Release Date: February 22, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

7. "Metro: Exodus"

Like so many other video games, the "Metro" series is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Unlike many of those games, "Metro" is set in Russia. It envisions a post-apocalypse shaped by nuclear radiation, dwindling resources, and unpredictable, extreme weather conditions.

It's a game about nuclear monsters, survival, and humanity. It's also a first-person shooter, so expect lots of shooting.

In "Metro: Exodus," the series finally exits the underground subway tunnels of previous games for higher ground. 

Release Date: February 22, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

8. "Trials Rising"

The "Trials" series is years-deep at this point, and it's still a surprising delight. The game is pretty straightforward: Carefully pilot a dirt bike through precarious stages that are rife with traps and pitfalls.

If you've spent any time watching bicycle or motorbike-based trials, you're no doubt familiar with what this game series is all about: Precision movement in extremely dangerous settings. "Trials" takes that formula and turns it into a risk-free video game, and then it adds massive, ridiculous explosions. 

Release Date: February 26, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch

9. "Dead or Alive 6"

The fighting game renaissance is in full swing, and "Dead or Alive" is the next major fighting series to get a new entry in 2019. "Dead or Alive 6" continues in the tradition of the dozens of "Dead or Alive" games before it, featuring 3D fighting focused on counters and parries.

Release Date: March 1, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

10. "Devil May Cry 5"

Early 2019 has been rife with slick-looking third-person action games, and "Devil May Cry 5" is the perfect example.

The series is known for its ultra-stylish characters, deep fighting system, and over-the-top settings. "Devil May Cry 5" takes those ideas and runs with them (then leaps into the air and murders, like, two-dozen flying demons).

Check out our full review of "Devil May Cry 5" right here.

Release Date: March 8, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

11. "The Division 2"

New York City? That's old hat — in "The Division 2," you're headed straight into the nation's capital to straighten out some bad guys from a third-person perspective.

As in the first "Division" game, players group up online to tackle missions. It's reminiscent of games like "Destiny" and the upcoming "Anthem"— a third-person shooter with a focus on cooperative play online.

Check out our full review of "The Division 2" right here.

Release Date: March 15, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

12. "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice"

The folks behind the "Souls" series ("Demons Souls"/"Dark Souls") and 2014's incredible "Bloodborne" are back at it — only this time, instead of a Cthulu-inspired Victorian setting, the new game takes place in Feudal Japan.

In "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," you play as a ninja out for justice. Like previous third-person action games from the folks at From Software, "Sekiro" is extremely difficult. Any enemy can take you down, and your best bet is to carefully, tactically, take down each foe. Unlike previous From Software games, "Sekiro" features a major stealth component, as well as a ton of mobility (as seen above).

Check out our full review of "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" right here.

Release Date: March 22, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

13. "Yoshi's Crafted World"

Like "Yoshi's Island" for the Super Nintendo, "Yoshi" for the Switch is a platformer starring Yoshi. He can pause to aim and throw eggs at enemies, or he can consume them, or he can leap into the air and butt stomp down. Yoshi is versatile!

In the new "Yoshi" game, you're able to walk into the background, and occasionally switch up the entire orientation of levels. In so many words, it's a new spin on the classic 2D formula.

Check out our full review of "Yoshi's Crafted World" right here.

Release Date: March 29, 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

14. "Mortal Kombat 11"

Since the series launched in 1992, "Mortal Kombat" has been synonymous with video game gore, earning legions of fans with over-the-top violence and edgy character designs.

The new "Mortal Kombat 11" is still ultra-violent, but it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Check out our full review of "Mortal Kombat 11" right here. 

Release Date: April 23, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch

15. "Days Gone"

"Days Gone" is "Sons of Anarchy" meets "28 Days Later." You play as a lone biker surviving in the wake of a global pandemic. Billions were wiped out, and many millions more became "freakers"— that's zombies to you and me.

As if zombies weren't scary enough, "Days Gone" turns them into a water-like mass capable of flooding into corridors with the speed and fury of a tsunami. They're a far more overwhelming threat than the "Night of the Living Dead" zombies in games like "Resident Evil."

That is, of course, when you're not riding away on your sweet hog — which is always an option.

Release Date: April 26, 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

16. "Rage 2"

If "Mad Max" were an ongoing series of video games, it might look something like the "Rage" franchise. 

It's set in a very familiar post-apocalypse, where gangs of extremely theatrical-looking survivors endlessly battle for control of the remaining world around them. There are scrappy-looking off-road vehicles to battle in, and horrific mutated creatures, and a whole bunch of crazy-looking guns. 

If nothing else, it should provide a fantastic excuse to blow stuff up.

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

17. "Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled"

Remember "Crash Team Racing"? It was the "Mario Kart" equivalent on PlayStation 1 that some folks swore by, and in 2019 it's coming back!

The original game is being re-created in loving/ridiculous detail for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. In addition to all the original racers and tracks, the new game is getting online racing — something that didn't become commonplace in gaming until two full game generations after the original PlayStation 1.

Since this game's a reboot of an older game, it comes with a lower price tag: Just $40.

Release Date: June 21, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

18. "Super Mario Maker 2"

One of the best 2D "Super Mario" games ever made isn't just a game, but a creation tool: "Super Mario Maker" on Wii U enabled millions of players to create their own "Super Mario" levels, test them, and then share them all over the world.

In June, Nintendo plans to release the second game in that series with "Super Mario Maker 2."

Like in the first "Super Mario Maker," you're able to create your own 2D "Super Mario" levels using objects from a variety of "Super Mario" games — goombas and koopas and chain chomps from across decades of "Super Mario" history.

While the first "Super Mario Maker" offered objects from "Super Mario Bros.,""Super Mario Bros. 3,""Super Mario World," and "New Super Mario Bros. U," it looks like "Super Mario Maker 2" will also allow the use of objects from "Super Mario 3D World"— including the various "suits" from that game.

Release Date: June 28, 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

19. "Dr. Mario World"

"Dr. Mario World" is a free-to-play puzzle game based on the long line of "Dr. Mario" puzzle games from Nintendo. Like previous Nintendo games on smartphones, "Dr. Mario World" is being developed in collaboration with third-party partners — in this case, it's the Japanese social media company Line and the Korean game development studio NHN Entertainment.

So, uh, what is it? We don't know too much just yet, but it sounds like a traditional color-matching puzzle game along the lines of previous "Dr. Mario" games. One twist: It'll be free-to-play. Nintendo describes it as, "free to download with optional in-app purchases."

Release Date: Early summer 2019

Platform(s): Apple and Android devices

20. "Mario Kart Tour"

"Mario Kart" has been a big deal for over 25 years. And now — finally— it's coming to smartphones.

The game is "Mario Kart Tour," and it's now scheduled to arrive at some point this summer.

So, what is "Mario Kart Tour"? That remains to be seen — Nintendo has yet to show anything beyond the logo seen above. 

You can tell from the naming convention that "Mario Kart Tour" is its own thing, separate from the main thread of "Mario Kart" games that have come out on Nintendo consoles exclusively. "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is the most recent entry in the main series. "Mario Kart Tour" is expected to be a side game, like "Mario Kart Arcade GP."

That the game isn't a numbered entry isn't the only indication that it's a spin-off — the fact that it's for a smartphone, not one of Nintendo's consoles, is another big indicator. We'll find out soon enough!

Release Date: Summer 2019

Platform(s): Apple and Android devices

21. "Shenmue 3"

On the cusp of the millennium, Sega launched an ambitious third-person action game for its similarly ambitious new game console, the Sega Dreamcast. That game was "Shenmue," and it went on to become a cult classic. 

The game — and the subsequent franchise it spawned — are known for offering players a level of freedom previously unseen in a console game. 

In 2019, "Shenmue" is coming back with a brand new entry from the original creators: "Shenmue 3." The game is notorious for having outright broken Kickstarter when it was announced back in 2015. Now, nearly four years later, it's nearly here.

Release Date: August 27, 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PC

22. "Borderlands 3"

Finally, after years of waiting, "Borderlands 3" was revealed and given a relatively imminent release date.

The game franchise that helped popularize the loot-shooter genre is back with a new entry, and it seems like more"Borderlands" in every way: new character classes, new planets to explore, and new guns to fire. 

Perhaps most notable is what "Borderlands 3"isn't— an online-only loot-shooter along the lines of "Destiny" and "The Division."

Release Date: September 13, 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

23. "The Outer Worlds"

The creative duo behind the original "Fallout" are working together again on a new series that feels suspiciously familiar: It's called "The Outer Worlds."

The kitschy first trailer for "The Outer Worlds" is a delight, and follows in the tradition of irreverent role-playing games like "Fallout."

The story is simple: "You awake from hibernation on a colonist ship lost in transit to its destination on the edge of the galaxy, only to find yourself in the midst of a deep conspiracy threatening to destroy the colony." How you play out that scenario is seemingly up to you.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

24. "The Last of Us Part II"

The folks behind the Indiana Jones-esque blockbuster third-person action "Uncharted" series are true veterans of video game creation. The studio, Naughty Dog, goes all the way back to the first PlayStation console, having created the beloved "Crash Bandicoot" series.

Beyond those two (massive) game franchises, Naughty Dog is also responsible for the incredible, genre-pushing PlayStation game "The Last of Us." Naughty Dog's next game is a highly anticipated follow-up, the aptly-titled "The Last of Us Part II."

In "Part II," the duo of protagonists Joel and Ellie are making a return.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

25. "Luigi's Mansion 3"

If you're old like me, you may remember playing an early Nintendo GameCube game named "Luigi's Mansion." It came out way back in 2001!

It wasn't anything like a typical Super Mario game — instead of jumping on Goombas and clearing treacherous gaps, Luigi was sneaking around a haunted mansion with a flashlight and a vacuum. His goal: Stun the villainous ghosts with his flashlight, then vacuum them up. Naturally!

The game got a sequel, many years later: "Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon" for the Nintendo 3DS console. But the series has been absent from a Nintendo home console since that original game. Soon, in 2019, a third entry in the series is finally coming: "Luigi's Mansion 3."

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

26. "Gears of War 5"

Are you ready to chainsaw some more Locust? With "Gears 5" in the works, Microsoft's betting that the answer is a resounding yes.

The next entry in the gruff and grisly "Gears of War" third-person shooter series was announced by Microsoft in June during the company's annual E3 media briefing. A new character is at the forefront, introduced during a short trailer — her name is Kait, who previously debuted as a supporting "Gears" character.

Like previous games in the series, "Gears 5" features third-person shooting with a focus on movement and cover.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

27. "Ghost of Tsushima"

Sucker Punch, the studio that created the PlayStation blockbuster "inFamous," is working on something completely new: a samurai game set in Feudal Japan, called "Ghost of Tsushima."

All we know about the game is that it's a tale of revenge. Here's the full description from Sucker Punch:

"The year is 1274. Samurai warriors are the legendary defenders of Japan — until the fearsome Mongol Empire invades the island of Tsushima, wreaking havoc and conquering the local population. As one of the last surviving samurai, you rise from the ashes to fight back. But, honorable tactics won't lead you to victory. You must move beyond your samurai traditions to forge a new way of fighting — the way of the Ghost — as you wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Japan."

From what the trailer shows, "Ghost of Tsushima" is a third-person, character-driven action game with a focus on swordplay. This is a samurai game, after all.

Beyond the story, and the pedigree, "Ghost of Tsushima" simply looks incredibly unique. It's gorgeous, and set in a time period rarely explored in blockbuster video games.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

28. "Cyberpunk 2077"

"Cyberpunk 2077" is what happens when you mix "Blade Runner" with "Grand Theft Auto"— an open-world action game set in a dystopian future, where body modification is standard and cold, empty capitalism is the driving force of society.

How you choose to live in the world of "Cyberpunk 2077" is up to you. The game is a role-playing game in the truest sense: You create a character and shape who they are through your actions in-game. 

Whether "Cyberpunk 2077" launches in 2019 is anyone's guess, but it's been in the works for years at this point. Fingers crossed!

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

29. "Death Stranding"

What is "Death Stranding"? That's a great question. Even though I've seen several trailers for the game, I have no idea what it is.

Here's what we know for sure:

— The game is being created by "Metal Gear" series creative lead Hideo Kojima, a legendary figure in the video game business.
— It stars Norman Reedus, of "The Walking Dead" fame. He's the main character. Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor best known as the bad guy from "Casino Royale," appears to be the antagonist.
— The game is a collaboration between Hideo Kojima and famed film director Guillermo del Toro.
— It's being funded by Sony, which means the game is only coming to the PlayStation 4.

Is it a first-person or third-person game? A survival game? Open world, or linear? All of this stuff is still up in the air. Even after seeing the latest trailer, I'm no closer to knowing exactly what it is.

All that aside, it's clearly gorgeous and doing something totally different.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

30. "Dreams"

The British studio behind "Dreams," Media Molecule, is most well-known for its previous franchise: "LittleBigPlanet." Like that series, "Dreams" focuses on letting players create their own game worlds. Also like the "LBP" series, "Dreams" offers a straightforward campaign that's intended to introduce the kinds of worlds that players can create.

What that actually means in practice is far more complex. "Dreams" is almost more of a tool than a game, but you're also able to buy it and play creations from other players without ever actually creating anything yourself.

Release Date: 2019 ("Early Access" started on April 16)

Platform(s): PlayStation 4

31. "Halo Infinite"

The new "Halo" is the next major entry in the long-running first-person shooter series, and it once again features the iconic super-soldier Master Chief as its main protagonist. And "Halo Infinite" is rife with nods to "Halo" tradition.

But let's be clear: It's not named "Halo 6" for a good reason. The game features a new art style, and is said to take the series in "new and unexpected directions."

But let's not get too crazy: This is still a "Halo" game, and that means that everyone's favorite supersoldier, Master Chief, is still front and center. The game's story focuses on him, and you playing as him, and — if history serves as a guide here — shooting like a trillion aliens as him.

Regardless of the name, "Infinite" is a follow-up to "Halo 5: Guardians," and will continue the story that began in that game. Given that it's been over three years since the last "Halo" game, we expect to see this one in 2019.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

32. "Animal Crossing"

A brand new "Animal Crossing"? Yes, a brand new "Animal Crossing"! If there's one game that Nintendo Switch owners have been clamoring for, it's a new "Animal Crossing" game.

The beloved home-making game that's endeared so many fans across nearly 20 years is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch. The tiny bit of tease that Nintendo offered during its Nintendo Direct presentation isn't intended to directly represent gameplay, but I'd be surprised if it didn't look similar when the game arrives at some point in 2019.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

33. "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening"

The Game Boy classic "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" was an incredible achievement when it arrived on Nintendo's Game Boy handheld console in 1993. It felt and played almost as well as the Super Nintendo game "The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past," despite running on far less powerful hardware.

Over 25 years later, Nintendo is finally giving "Link's Awakening" the re-master treatment it deserves: The game is getting a gorgeous update on the Nintendo Switch at some point in 2019.

Release Date: 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

34. "Pokémon Sword and Shield"

Pokémon is coming to the Nintendo Switch — prepare yourself!

Indeed, Nintendo is developing "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield" for the Nintendo Switch. Not spin-offs, like "Pokémon Stadium" or "Pokémon Snap" way back on the Nintendo 64, but a full-on main series entry. As is typical for main series "Pokémon" games, there are two versions ("Sword" and "Shield").

The game is set in a new region, known as "Galar," and it features the new art style that looks similar to the "Pokémon Let's Go!" games that ari ved in late 2018. It also features new Pokémon, new trainers, and a totally new story. 

With a launch window set for late 2019, "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield" are likely to be the biggest Nintendo games of the year.

Release Date:"Late" 2019

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

Perhaps we forgot your favorite game? Let us know! This list will be updated over time, and your contribution is much appreciated!

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Memorial Day weekend has ushered in plenty of noteworthy deals at Wayfair (and pretty much every other retailer) with savings up to 80% off sitewide.
• Wayfair is lowering prices on everything from sofas to mattresses to outdoor furniture now through the weekend.
• Shop the Wayfair Memorial Day sale directly here, or skim 21 of the best deals below before they're gone. 

Memorial Day weekend is one herald of summer — bringing to mind vacation time, melting popsicles, and the happy tedium of catching up with friends and family over backyard cookouts. 

It also ushers in one of the few times of the year when you can use seasonality to save up to 80% on big purchases — just by buying them this weekend rather than next. If you've been waiting for an excuse to commit to a pricey dining room table for the new apartment or a replacement for the dorm-like storage you're currently making do with, now is a good time. 

One of the biggest sales is happening at Wayfair. While the site typically has great budget-friendly deals, some of its steepest annual discounts are happening now through May 28. If you're looking to do a total interior design upgrade, or even if you're just on the hunt for a very specific piece of furniture like a couch or ottoman, Wayfair is a solid place to start searching for a deal.

Now through May 28, save up to 80% on the following categories:

• Patio furniture: up to 65% off
• Living room furniture: up to 65% off
• Mattresses: up to 70% off
• Bedroom furniture: up to 80% off
• Bedding: up to 70% off 
• Dining room furniture: up to 70% off
• Kitchen essentials: up to 70% off
• Area rugs: up to 70% off
• Storage and organization: up to 80% off

You can shop the full Wayfair Memorial Day weekend sale here, and below are some of its most noteworthy deals:

1. Huckaby Blaxlands Right Hand Facing Sectional, $788.99 (originally $2,969) [You save  2,180.01]
2. Kade Armchair, $191.94 (originally $300.04)[You save $108.10]
3. Bedias Solid Wood Platform Bed, $413.99 (originally $718.20) [You save $304.21]
4. Lucid 12" Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress, $270.99 (originally $323.99) [You save $53]
5. Brandt Light Blue/Ivory Area Rug, $19.99 (originally $58) [You save $38.01]
6. Cazenovia Reversible Sectional, $475.99 (originally $1,049) [You save $573.01]
   
7. Zara Coffee Table, $117.63 (originally $269) [You save $151.37]
8. Crispin Chaise Lounge, Set of 2, $445.99 (originally $2,098.10)[You save $1,652.11]
9. Rebello Reclining Chaise Lounge, Set of 4, $576.99 (originally $1,609)[You save $1,032.01]
10. Ismay Outdoor Chair with Cushions, Set of 2, $191.99 (originally $839) [You save $647.01]
11. Kiril Duvet Cover Set, $26.72 (originally $99.99)[You save $73.27]
12. Gino Rectangular Dining Table, $453.99 (originally $549.99) [You save $96]
    
13. Harkless Standard Bookcase, $30.27 (originally $79.99) [You save $49.72]
    
14. Cloer Upholstered Panel Bed, $149.40 (originally $355) [You save $205.60]
    
15. Mateer Coffee Table, $127.75 (originally $234.26) [You save $106.51]
    
16. Minerva Accent Mirror, $184.49 (originally $345.05) [You save $160.56]
17. Keurig K-Cafe, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee, Latte, & Cappuccino Maker, $159.99 (originally $179.99) [You save $20]
18. Rachael Ray 12-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set, $135.99 (originally $359.99) [You save $224]
    
19. Ian Double Bowl Elevated Feeder, $52.33 (originally $131.98) [You save $76.95]
    
20. Wayfair Basics Solid Blackout Rod Pocket Single Curtain Panel, $8.54 (originally $34.99) [You save $26.45]
    
21. Sevigny 3-Piece Pub Table Set, $169.94 (originally $446.99) [You save $277.05]

Shop the Wayfair sale

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Memorial Day weekend deals on the internet.

Join the conversation about this story »

• This is a preview of The Stories Report from Business Insider Intelligence.
• 14-Day Risk Free Trial: Get full access to this and all Digital Media industry research reports.

Stories are on track to become the main format for social media consumption, providing brands with a massive and vital opportunity to reach consumers.

 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims the format will supplant News Feed use as soon as mid-2019, a much quicker pace than the social network anticipated. Combined, Stories features on Facebook-owned platforms command a whopping 1.5 billion daily active users (DAU), though some may be double-counted.

Snapchat's audience is significantly smaller, though still sizable at 190 million DAU as of Q1 2019. Stories-centric features have also emerged on several other platforms, including YouTube, Google search results, and even LinkedIn.

The viral acceptance of Stories, their accelerating usage, and their highly engaging nature make it imperative for brands to use the format to reach consumers. This fast-growing opportunity will enable brands to reach consumers in a native format that's immersive and highly appealing to younger demographics.

But because Stories are a completely new animal for brands — most are still playing catch-up to consumer adoption — they must follow best practices to make sure to avoid aggravating users through overexposure, or wasting resources by creating Stories that users don't want to watch. 

In TheStories Report, Business Insider Intelligence identifies the most popular platforms for Stories features, defines best practices to maximize engagement without alienating users, and pinpoints challenges hindering brand adoption for the future. 

The companies mentioned in this report are: Facebook, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, Messenger, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and YouTube.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Millennial users are more likely to watch Stories on Instagram (60%) than Snapchat (53%) and Facebook (48%), according to VidMob.
• Gen Z — comprised mainly of teens — favors Snapchat for watching Stories. Teens are heavy viewers of Stories, and 73% of Snapchat's Gen Z audience consume content via Stories, compared with 70% of Instagram's and 34% of Facebook's, per VidMob.
• Brands looking to build successful Stories campaigns and make meaningful connections with customers should shoot vertical content that's uncluttered and post no more than seven Stories within a 24-hour period, among other best practices.

In full, the report:

• Provides insight into which platforms brands should prioritize based on their target audience segments. 
• Offers an inside look into marketers' best practices for Stories creation. 
• Explores the hurdles the industry will need to clear so brands can take full advantage of the format. 

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now
2. Subscribe to a Premium pass to Business Insider Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and more than 250 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you've given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of one of the fastest-growing opportunities in short-form video — the Stories format. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky, Kinder Morgan executive chairman Richard Kinder, and FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith all served overseas.
• Here are other Fortune 500 CEOs who have served in the military. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Few institutions teach discipline, management, logistics, and efficiency like the US Armed Forces, so it's no surprise that Ranker's list of Fortune 500 CEOs finds many military veterans. 

Below are some of the most accomplished military vets who went on to lead Fortune 500 companies.

SEE ALSO: 12 survival tricks from the Eagle Scouts you'd need to master if you're stranded and have to fend for yourself

Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky was a member of the Army's elite Rangers and served in Europe, the US, and Panama.

West Point graduate Alex Gorsky served in the Army for six years, eventually achieving the rank of captain. 

He became the CEO of Johnson & Johnson at the age of 51, where he remains to this day. He also serves on the Board of Directors for IBM.

Source: Ranker

Former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert A. McDonald served in the 82nd Airborne Division, retiring with the rank of Captain.

Robert A. McDonald wanted to be in the Army so bad that he wrote his congressman for a special exemption at just 11 years old. Eventually, he came of age and got his wish.

He is a former CEO of Procter & Gamble, and also served as secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Obama administration, where he worked to improve veterans' access to healthcare.

Source: Ranker

Robert Myers, chairman of Casey's General Store, spent 22 years in the US Army.

Robert Myers spent 22 years in the US Army, serving in Germany, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1988.

Afterward, he began working at Casey's General as a manager. Within a few years he worked his way to the top of the corporation, which owns hundreds of stores across America, many of which are situated in small towns with populations of 5,000 or less.

Source: Fortune, Casey's General Store

James A. Skinner of McDonald's and the Walgreens Boots Alliance served in the US Navy for nearly 10 years.

Skinner began his career working at a McDonald's in Iowa. He then went on to join the US Navy and serve for nearly 10 years, including two tours of the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam war.

When he returned from service, he again worked at McDonald's, this time as a manager. From there he worked his way up to CEO. He now serves as the executive chairman of Walgreens Boots Alliance, a holding company that owns Walgreens and the UK pharmacy Boots.

Source: Fortune, Ranker

Herb Vest, head of financial advisory firm H.D. Vest, served nearly four years in Vietnam.

Long before Herb Vest sold his financial advisory firm, H.D. Vest, to Wells Fargo in 2001 for $127.5 million, he'd served nearly four years in Vietnam. He was in the airborne cavalry, where he led dangerous helicopter raids as an officer.

After success in financial advising, Vest funded an online dating site, True.com, which went bankrupt in 2012.

Source: Ranker, Bizjournals

Viacom founder Sumner Redstone intercepted and analyzed coded Japanese communications during WWII.

Redstone is the current chairman emeritus of media empire Viacom, and is estimated to be worth $4.5 billion.

The Boston native and Harvard graduate took one of his first post-college jobs with the US Army during World War II, where he worked to intercept and analyze coded Japanese communications.

Source: Ranker, Forbes

Former Foot Locker CEO Ken Hicks served in the Korean War.

Ken Hicks is the former CEO and president of the sneaker chain Foot Locker, and he has also held high-level executive roles at JC Penney and Payless ShoeSource. 

His father was a World War II veteran, and Hicks served in the military as an artillery battery commander in the Korean War.

Source: Ranker

Richard Kinder, executive chairman of Kinder Morgan, was once a Captain in the US Army.

Richard Kinder is executive chairman of Kinder Morgan, Inc., one of the largest energy companies in North America, worth approximately $115 billion.

Before he became a big player in the energy sector, with stints at giant corporations like Enron, he was a Captain in the US Army. He served in Vietnam.

Source: Ranker, Chron

Former Lumeta chief Tom Dent was a decorated fighter pilot in the US Navy.

Tom Dent is the former CEO of a management and logistics firm called Lumeta, but before that, he was a decorated fighter pilot in the US Navy.

Dent served three tours of duty, where he learned a great deal about leadership. He's said that he still has his 1960s copy of "Small Unit Leadership: A Commonsense Approach."

Source: Ranker, USA Today

Former Rockwell Collins CEO Clayton M. Jones was once in the US Air Force.

Jones is the former CEO of the aeronautics firm Rockwell Collins, and he's said that he was served by his experience as a fighter pilot with the US Air Force. He is now a fellow at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Source: Ranker

Former General Motors CEO Daniel Akerson once served as a Naval officer.

Formerly a Carlyle Group exec and CEO of GM, Daniel Akerson has a reputation for getting things done, so much so, that he once removed tubes from his arm and discharged himself from a hospital after growing impatient waiting on doctors.

Akerson is the son of a World War II veteran. He served as a Naval officer aboard the destroyer DUPONT.

Source: Ranker, Mlive, USNA

Former Lockheed Martin CEO Robert J. Stevens joined the US Marines straight out of high school at the age of 18.

Stevens was the CEO of Lockheed Martin from 2004 until 2012. Current CEO Marillyn Hewson took over from Stevens a year later.

Stevens joined the US Marines straight out of high school at the age of 18. He became a highly decorated serviceman, receiving several awards including the Globe and Anchor Award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation's Circle of Honor Award, and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation's Semper Fidelis Award.

Source: Ranker

Former ConocoPhillips CEO James Mulva was stationed by the US Navy in Bahrain.

In 2012, James Mulva stepped down as CEO of energy giant ConocoPhillips, which he had led since 2002. 

Mulva attended college in an ROTC program before being stationed by the US Navy in Bahrain. While in the Middle East, he learned about the energy industry and its geopolitical implications first hand.

Source: Ranker

Former Verizon chairman Lowell McAdam spent six years in the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps.

After serving as Verizon CEO for seven years, McAdam stepped down in 2018. Before he was the head of the America's largest mobile network, he spent six years in the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps, where he became a licensed professional engineer.

In the Navy, he worked with the Seabees, a special construction unit. McAdam's unit was even responsible for building sets for the hit film "Top Gun."

Source: Ranker, Fortune

FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith served with the US Marines in Vietnam in two tours of duty.

Smith began his life as the son of a prominent businessman, but with a condition that left him confined to crutches until the age of 10. He outgrew his ailment, went on to play sports in high school, and ultimately worked as CEO of FedEx.

Smith served with the US Marines in Vietnam in two tours of duty, one as a an infantryman, and another as a pilot. He received various medals for his service long before he was hailed as "The Father of overnight delivery."

Source: Ranker, USNews

• Some of the world's most recognized companies have founders who served overseas. 
• The companies include retail giant Walmart, whose founder Sam Walton served as an Army captain.
• Here are other successful businessmen with roots in the military.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It should be no surprise that skills learned in the military such as decision-making under pressure, organization, and leadership translate well to the corporate boardroom. 

People like FedEx CEO Fred Smith or Walmart founder Sam Walton have become household names for their business success. Less known is their service prior to founding major companies.

After World War II, nearly 50% of veterans went the entrepreneurship route, though that number has substantially declined today. Still, there are currently around 2.5 million majority-veteran-owned businesses.

Here are nice companies started by military veterans.

Paul Szoldra wrote a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: This man built a cutting-edge stealth boat for the US Navy. Then the government tried to put him out of business.

Real-estate giant RE/MAX was cofounded by Air Force veteran Dave Liniger.

Prior to founding "Real Estate Maximums"— better known as RE/MAX— Dave Liniger served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.

From 1965 to 1971, he served as an enlisted airman in Texas, Arizona, Vietnam, and Thailand, according to his LinkedIn.

"The military really gave me the chance to grow up. It was fun. I thought it was a fabulous place," he told Airport Journals. "It also taught me self-discipline and a sense of responsibility."

After he got out of the military, he started flipping houses for profit, and eventually got his real-estate license. He cofounded RE/MAX with his wife Gail in 1973.

Sperry Shoes was founded by Navy veteran Paul A. Sperry.

You can thank a former sailor in the US Naval Reserve for inventing the world's first boat shoe.

In 1917, Sperry joined the Navy Reserve, though he didn't stay very long. He was released from duty at the end of the year at the rank of Seaman First Class. 

Still, his experience there and further adventures sailing led to the founding of his company, which eventually created the first non-slip boating shoe. He founded Sperry in 1935.

During World War II, the Navy purchased Sperry Top-Sider shoes by the boatload. Nearly a century later, they are still a favorite of sailors everywhere.

FedEx was founded by Marine Corps veteran Fred Smith.

Back before FedEx was the behemoth logistics company it is today, founder Fred Smith was observing how the military was getting things from point A to point B.

After graduating from Yale University, he was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer and served two tours in Vietnam. He earned a Bronze Star, Silver Star, and two Purple Hearts, according to US News.

Only two years after he left the Corps, he started Federal Express.

"Much of our success reflects what I learned as a Marine," he wrote for Military.com. "The basic principles of leading people are the bedrock of the Corps. I can still recite them from memory, and they are firmly embedded in the FedEx culture."

Walmart was cofounded by Army veteran Sam Walton.

Walmart is the largest retail company in the world.

It was founded by a former Army intelligence officer named Sam Walton. From 1942 to 1945, Walton was in the Army and eventually rose to the rank of captain. His brother (and cofounder) Bud served as a bomber pilot for the Navy in the Pacific.

According to the company's history, Sam Walton's first Walmart store, called Walton's Five and Dime, was started with $5,000 he saved from his time serving in the Army and a $25,000 loan from his father-in-law. Walton passed away in 1992.

Web-hosting company GoDaddy was founded by Marine Corps veteran Bob Parsons.

The company responsible for registering a large portion of the world's web domains, GoDaddy, is the brainchild of Marine veteran Bob Parsons.

Parsons enlisted in the Corps in 1968 and later served in Vietnam, where he earned a Combat Action Ribbbon, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Purple Heart for wounds he received in combat.

"I absolutely would not be where I am today without the experiences I had in the Marine Corps," he writes on his website.

In 1997, he started GoDaddy. In 2014, it filed for a $100 million IPO. He left the company around that time to focus on his philanthropic efforts.

WeWork was founded by Israeli navy veteran Adam Neumann.

Coworking company WeWork's CEO Adam Neumann served in the Israeli navy.

Adam Neumann started a coworking office space for entrepreneurs in New York City back in 2011. Today, the company has 466,000 members across 28 countries, and it is valued at $47 billion.

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Neumann served as a navy officer there for five years before moving to the US in 2001.

Taboola was founded by Israeli army veteran Adam Singolda.

Another veteran of the Israel Defense Forces is Adam Singolda, the founder of content-recommendation engine Taboola.

Like many other successful Israeli entrepreneurs who served in the IDF (military service is mandatory in Israel), Singolda developed many of the skills that would help his company later on in the military intelligence field.

He ended up serving for seven years as an officer with the elite Unit 8200, the Israeli military's version of the NSA.

He started Taboola back in 2007, and you've probably seen his work under the many millions of articles that feature "Content You May Like." The company projected over $1 billion in revenue as well as profitability in 2018.

Kinder Morgan, a North America energy infrastructure company, was cofounded by Army veteran Richard Kinder.

Vietnam veteran Richard Kinder cofounded one of the largest energy companies in North America, Kinder Morgan. Along with his business partner, William Morgan, he started the company in 1997.

He earned his law degree at the University of Missouri before serving in Vietnam as a US Army captain. He was in uniform for four years as a Judge Advocate General officer (aka a military lawyer).

USAA was founded by a group of Army officers.

It may not be a huge surprise that USAA — a company that exclusively caters to military veterans and their families — was started by veterans.

Interestingly, though, it doesn't have just one founder: It has 25.

Back in the 1920s, it was pretty hard for military service members to get (or keep) auto insurance, since it was either way too expensive or likely to get canceled because they moved around so much.

That's why Maj. William Henry Garrison and 24 of his fellow Army officers got together in 1922 to form their own mutual company to insure themselves, according to Encyclopedia.com. Today, the United Services Automobile Association provides insurance, banking, and investment services to 12.4 million members.

Disclosure: Former Business Insider editor Paul Szoldra has USAA insurance and use its banking services.

You’ve likely heard the phrase Internet of Things, or IoT, at some point if you have been following any tech news in the last several years.

But at the same time, you might be scratching your head figuring out what it is or what it means past a flashy buzzword.

Simply put, the IoT refers to the connection of devices (other than typical fare such as computers and smartphones) to the Internet. Cars, refrigerators, juicers, wine racks, heart monitors, ovens, watches, and more are all candidates for connection.

A new report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, called IoT 101: The Essential Guide to the Internet of Things, outlines the basics of the IoT and what this next wave of technology means to the everyday individual.

The report dives into key IoT terms, predictions and trends for the IoT in the next five years, the industries that the IoT will affect the most, and the biggest challenges facing the IoT.

To get your copy of this exclusive report absolutely FREE, simply click here.

Join the conversation about this story »

• On Sunday night's new episode of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians," Corey Gamble crashed a girls' trip Kris Jenner was taking with Khloe Kardashian and Malika Haqq.
• Kanye West also texted him, telling him it was shady that no one knew any details about his family or personal life.
• Kourtney Kardashian stayed at Kendall Jenner's house while her place was being cleaned after the California wildfires, turning Kendall's house into chaos.
• Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.

When the women in the Kardashian family go on a girls' trip to Palm Springs on Sunday night's episode of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians," Kris Jenner ends up causing drama after she brings boyfriend Corey Gamble along. Meanwhile, Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner ended up butting heads when Kourtney got a little too comfortable while living at Kendall's house after the California wildfires.

Here's what you might have missed on "KUWTK":

Kourtney overstayed her welcome at Kendall's house

Since Kourtney and her kids were evacuated after the California wildfires, she and the kids were staying at Kendall's house. But after a few days, they were still there and Kendall started getting stressed out by the chaos in her home, especially after coming home from working when she needed to decompress.

It finally got to the point where she felt like she needed to talk to Kourtney about it, and she approached her with a list of complaints, hoping she'd get the hint that she needed to leave. But the conversation didn't go as planned, and Kourtney wasn't quite getting it.

Even after Kourtney got the all clear to go back to her home, she still didn't want to leave because she loved staying at Kendall's house. But in the end, Kourtney tried to make up for it by replacing what she and the kids had used and broken while they were there, and she was able to go home on good terms.

Kanye brought up suspicions he has about Corey Gamble

Feeling concerned about how little he knows about Kris Jenner's boyfriend, Corey, Kanye sent him a text, letting him know he felt he was acting suspicious, despite the fact that Kim didn't like the way he approached the situation.

"Kanye texted Corey something along the lines of, 'Look, we don't know you, we've never met any of your family members,' and of course we've all felt that way and thought that, but for Kanye to just so bluntly say that to him, I feel like that was the wrong choice to make at the wrong time," Kim said.

Kris was unhappy about the text, but she said Kanye was just trying to look out for the family — and Khloe agreed that Corey being so secretive has caused her to be more on guard with him.

"We don't know anything about Corey like that," she agreed.

Khloe and Kris took a girls' trip to Palm Springs

When Kris invited Khloe on a girls' weekend to Palm Springs, she was excited to spend some quality time with her mom, and she decided to bring best friend Malika Haqq along for the ride. But when they arrived in Palm Springs, they were greeted by Corey, and Kris hadn't told them that he would be there, too.

"Malika and I thought this would be a girls' weekend, so the whole thing is weird," Khloe said.

When they sat down to eat, Corey started talking about how wrong it is to gossip or to be a "blabbermouth," obviously letting on that he didn't like the text he got from Kanye (or the fact that Khloe agreed with it). Things got uncomfortable fast, so Khloe and Malika made their exit as quickly as they could.

The next day, they left to drive home after awkward goodbyes with Kris and Corey. Later, Kris caught up with Khloe at home to talk to her about the situation, and she told her that since she sets the tone for the way the rest of her siblings behave, but Khloe let her know that she was totally taken by surprise when Corey crashed their trip.

"I think it's really important for Khloe to understand that she really needs to get on my bandwagon because Corey is a part of the family, he isn't going anywhere, and she needs to be nice," Kris said.

Kris told Khloe that she felt Corey was treating her better than anyone else ever had, and Khloe agreed that she needed to do what makes her happy. Still, Kris wanted Corey to feel comfortable in their family, and she wanted the support from her kids when it came to their relationship.

Kim met up with Corey to let her know that she was sorry about the way that things went down, explaining that she was guarded because of the relationship issues they'd seen their father go through, and Corey said that there were no hard feelings between them. According to him, he stayed so private because he liked keeping the peace and thought leaving outsiders out of their family would be best.

"I feel like we did have a good heart to heart with Corey and I just feel like it's necessary for all of us to move forward," Kim said. "Ultimately, we just want to protect my mom, and she's always gonna be the most important thing to us and we want to look out for her."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Tesla has a mini Model S for kids that costs $600, and this family bought it to teach their child about driving electric

• FCA and Renault announced plans to execute a 50/50 merger that would create the world's 3rd-largest automaker.
• Renault is in a longtime alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi; that alliance could be ending, as its engineer, Carlos Ghosn, awaits trial in Japan.
• On its face, the proposed merger looks like a tie-up of Fiat and Renault, two companies that have struggled as the auto industry has witnessed surging sales since the financial crisis.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is a creature of the 2008 financial crisis and the skillful financial engineering of late CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Marchionne had turned around Fiat before he saw bankrupt, bailed-out Chrysler — the basket-case of the collapsing US auto industry — as an appealing target. His dealmaking was sweetened by the US government's desire to effectively pay Fiat billions to take Chrysler off its hands.

The new entity, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has been a success. The Jeep and RAM brands have witnessed surging US sales, and Marchionne savvily spun off Ferrari, the crown jewel, in an IPO that unlocked what's now a nearly $30-billion market cap (FCA's is only about $20 billion).

Read more:No one has the details of why Renault-Nissan head Carlos Ghosn was arrested — but here are the main theories

But that success has some issues. FCA is strong in the US market, but the company is heavily exposed to Europe, where Fiat has struggled. The group is well behind in China, and FCA has been using partnerships to keep up in self-driving development, mainly with Alphabet's Waymo. 

FCA, like Detroit rivals Ford and General Motors, has been able to amass cash as pickups and SUVs have sold well in recent years, but Marchionne also spent much of his CEO-dom chiseling down FCA's debt. The carmaker's ability to invest aggressively in the global transformation in mobility took a back seat to Marchionne's banker's instinct to tidy up FCA's balance sheet.

Managing a many-headed automotive beast

The bottom line is that the truck and SUV brands kept the whole undertaking on track, while efforts to reestablish Fiat and Alfa Romeo in the US largely failed. The Ferrari spinoff was a highlight, leading to speculation that Maserati might follow — but that brand has seen sales take a hit as the luxury market has become more competitive and the China market has slowed down.

I could spend another thousand words sifting through all the ins-and-outs of FCA's many-headed composition and detailing why this lucky beast — Italian and American, with hubs in Detroit and Milan but officially based in London and financially based in the Netherlands — is very difficult to sort out.

But I won't — having covered FCA since before the financial crisis, suffice it to say that ... it's complicated.

Now a proposed merger with Renault could take the complexity into the stratosphere.

On its face, it's straightforward: FCA and Renault would merge 50/50, with a new parent company holding the combined entity. However, there's the not insignificant matter of Renault's alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi, created by disgraced CEO Carlos Ghosn, who was arrested last year in Japan and has been awaiting trial on financial malfeasance charges ever since.

"While the proposal focuses on a combination of FCA and Groupe Renault, FCA looks forward – as part of a combined enterprise with Groupe Renault – to working with Groupe Renault's Alliance partner companies on ways to create additional value for all Alliance members," FCA said in a statement.

"FCA recognizes the standing and achievements of Groupe Renault's partners and sees significant expected benefits to all parties from the expanded partnership. The FCA and Groupe Renault combination together with its Nissan and Mitsubishi partners would be the largest global OEM alliance, selling more than 15 million vehicles annually."

Politics, politics, politics

Obviously, this looks like an FCA-Renault hookup that's excluding Nissan-Mitsubishi. Or, from another angle, Nissan concluding that it's better off on its own, given that it contributed 80% of sales to the alliance and always chaffed at the imbalance

That could mean that we're witnessing the enactment of a plan that Ghosn had devised to bolster Renault at his Japanese partners' expense, adding to the "palace coup" theory of his ouster that sought to explain why his downfall happened in Japan. But it could also mean that the alliance served its purpose and Nissan was more than happy to cut ties with Renault, declining participation and marking the end of the world's biggest combined automaker by sales.

Even if the outcome is somehow a mega-alliance, combining FCA, Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, it's tough to figure out how that alliance would be managed. To be honest, it's tricky to figure out exactly how FCA CEO Mike Manley and Renault chief Thierry Bolloré would steer their new ship, with no Japanese captains on deck.

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance was already something of a miracle in the global auto industry, where tie-ups have often ended badly. FCA, after all, was a result of Daimler jettisoning Chrysler before the financial crisis.

Against that history, Manley and Bolloré could be looking to share costs as much as possible to remain competitive as the traditional auto industry comes under stress from expensive technological innovation and confronts a downturn in both the US and China, alongside the flat European market.

This is an old playbook, and it stands in opposition to what General Motors has been doing: cutting costs, selling off the underperforming division, and creating new entities such as Cruise, a self-driving startup, that can be independently capitalized by outside investors like Japan's SoftBank. 

As far as FCA and Renault are concerned, a merger might work, is better than nothing, and creates a way for Renault to either dictate terms to the Nissan side or frees Renault from an alliance that had run out of gas. But it doesn't come without significant risks.

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• Hundreds of men across the US have recently contacted lawyers for help suing the Boy Scouts of America for sex abuse they say they suffered at the hands of scout leaders.
• Some of their lawyers said they have evidence that the BSA was inaccurate when the organization said in recent press statements that it had never "knowingly allowed a perpetrator to work with youth."
• The BSA has repeatedly apologized and says it now has policies to curtail abuse, including mandatory criminal background checks for all staff.
• New laws in New Jersey, New York, and California on statutes of limitations allow victims of long-ago abuse to sue for damages during a one-year window starting in August.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sharing their stories doesn't come easily for these middle-aged men. At times, their eyes well up or their voices crack as they describe being sexually abused in the Boy Scouts and suffering from emotional damage long afterward.

Looking back, they all remember vividly how excited they were to become Scouts.

"I was real gung-ho about getting my badges — fishing and campfires and all of that," said Darrell Jackson, now a 57-year-old New Yorker. "It was good at the beginning."

Jackson, whose unit leader was convicted of sodomy and imprisoned for about 18 months, is among hundreds of men across the US who have recently contacted lawyers for help suing the Boy Scouts of America for sex abuse they say they suffered at the hands of scout leaders.

Many of the men are from New York, which this year adjusted its restrictive statute-of-limitations law. The changes allow victims of long-ago abuse to sue for damages during a one-year window starting in August. New Jersey enacted a similar law this month. California is on track to follow suit.

Some of the lawyers told The Associated Press they have evidence that the BSA was inaccurate when the organization said in recent press statements that it had never "knowingly allowed a perpetrator to work with youth."

The Boy Scouts acknowledge that sex-abuse litigation poses a financial threat and have not ruled out seeking bankruptcy protection.

Jackson joined a Cub Scout pack in Brooklyn in 1972 and the next year testified against his pack leader, Freddie Modica.

His initial fascination with the Boy Scouts was simple: He liked the uniforms. "It was like G.I. Joe dolls," he recalled.

He soon learned that some boys in the unit were making visits to the pack leader's home.

"They made it seem like it was a big thing — and I felt out of the loop," Jackson said. "When I got a chance to go, I was like 'OK.'"

The allure, Jackson recalled, was that the scoutmaster — while posing as a supportive father figure — let the boys engage in taboo pastimes such as smoking and drinking.

Jackson now refers to what ensued as "the ugliness"— repeated sexual molestation by the scoutmaster until Jackson summoned the nerve to tell his grandmother, who was raising him. Initially skeptical, she eventually went to police.

In the years after the trial, Jackson says, he was often mocked with anti-gay slurs. He responded at times with belligerence and mistrust.

"It caused me to go into crime, drugs, everything, just to block stuff out," he said. "It basically messed up my life."

Despite receiving psychological counseling over the years, his marriage broke down. His childhood dreams of becoming an oceanographer faded. He cobbled together a career in home remodeling and maintenance.

Why sue the Boy Scouts? He says the organization should be held accountable, and he wants children to be safe.

"I don't want nobody to go through what I went through," he said.

Scars and shame lasted decades

Raymond Luna says he still has psychological scars from being abused as a scout in New York City in the 1970s.
"In my head, there's still anger," said Luna, 56, who now lives in Poughkeepsie, New York, and runs a fire-alarm installation company.

He recalls that the scoutmaster befriended many of the single moms — including his own — who had sons in the troop. Luna was among several boys who began visiting the scoutmaster's house. He says that's where the molestation took place.

He said he never reported the abuse to others.

"The shame was so big — like it was a secret," he said. "During my teenage years up to when I was 33, I totally blocked it out."

Even during a 26-year-marriage — which produced five children before ending in divorce — Luna says he never told his wife. He abused drugs and alcohol to keep the bad memories at bay and underwent years of therapy.

The counseling "helped me realize that I was a victim and not a participant," he said.

Luna says he's increasingly at peace. He has shared his full story with his current girlfriend. But he snapped to attention when he saw a TV ad seeking survivors of Boy Scout sex abuse to join in litigation. He and Jackson signed on with the same Seattle-based law firm.

After searching the internet for references to his former scoutmaster, he learned nothing about the man's whereabouts but found him listed in a database of the Boy Scouts' "ineligible volunteer" files, which list thousands of adults barred from scouting because of confirmed or suspected acts of molestation.

An expert hired by the Boy Scouts testified earlier this year that 7,819 suspected abusers were identified in the files, as well as 12,254 victims.

Luna's former scoutmaster was placed in the files in 1964 after an arrest for abusing a 12-year-old boy, yet he rejoined New York City's scouting ranks in the early 1970s. He remained a scoutmaster until 1975, roughly a year after Luna quit the organization in shame and anger, the paperwork showed.

"The BSA needs to know how much pain the abuse caused me and so many others," Luna said.

'It wasn't their fault'

Jason Amala, one of Jackson and Luna's lawyers, said scout officials failed to take reasonable steps to protect the boys from the foreseeable harm of being sexually abused by scout leaders. The claims will seek unspecified compensatory damages for pain and suffering and punitive damages based on an allegation that the BSA intentionally concealed their knowledge of the danger.

"We get people who call us virtually every day who still think it's their fault. And until the Scouts are fully transparent and accountable, you're going to have that problem," Amala said. "It wasn't their fault — not their parents' fault, not their moms' fault. It was the Boy Scouts' fault."

The BSA has repeatedly apologized and says it now has policies to curtail abuse, including making mandatory criminal background checks for all staff and volunteers and requiring two or more adult leaders to be present with youth at all times during scouting activities.

"We believe victims, we support them," said the BSA's chief executive, Mike Surbaugh. "We encourage them to come forward."

William Stevens, 50, came forward last year in Arkansas, filing a lawsuit alleging he was molested by his scoutmaster at least six times over a two-year period after joining the Scouts' Webelos program shortly before his 10th birthday in 1978.

The BSA's files show that the scoutmaster accused by Stevens, Samuel Otts, was caught sexually abusing a boy while a scoutmaster in Georgia in 1977. Yet Otts subsequently registered as a scout leader in Arkansas and remained active until 1980.

Rather than call police, the Scouts "allowed him to transfer and did nothing to warn the parents and scouts" in his new troop, said Peter Janci, one of Stevens' lawyers.

Last year, an Arkansas judge ruled against Stevens, saying his lawsuit was precluded by the state's statute of limitations. Janci hopes that ruling will be reconsidered if his legal team can prove the Boy Scouts made false claims about their abuse-prevention efforts.

The Boy Scouts say they report all suspected abusers in their database to law enforcement.

But Janci and his partner, Stephen Crew, say they have identified multiple cases in the Boy Scouts' database in which adult volunteers implicated in child abuse were allowed to return to scouting assignments on a probationary basis.

Asked about the lawyers' assertion, the BSA pointed to its current anti-abuse policies, but added, "We recognize, however, that there were moments in our organization's history when certain cases were not handled the way they would be addressed today."

Stevens went on to forge a successful life. He's married, has a daughter and is human resources director for a Little Rock-based trucking company.

Yet his experience in the Scouts in Hot Springs, Arkansas, has haunted him.

"For the past 40 years, I've always felt like I was damaged goods," he said. "I've lived with the shame and embarrassment and guilt because of the abuse I suffered. I pushed people away and didn't let them get close to me."

Only in 2016, Stevens says, did he come across an online database that included the Boy Scouts' file about Otts and learn of the abuse that was documented in Georgia. Stevens reached out to Janci's Oregon-based law firm and decided to go public with his story, speaking occasionally to small groups in abuse-recovery programs.

"That was the most difficult thing I've done in my life," Stevens said, "but also the most rewarding."

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here. Current subscribers can read the report here. 

If we're living through a “retail apocalypse” that spells doom for brick-and-mortar retail, as many have suggested, why are e-commerce leaders like Amazon, Alibaba, and JD.com so focused on building their own brick-and-mortar networks?

It's because they want to revitalize physical stores by introducing features associated with online shopping like personalization — and a whopping 65% of consumers said personalization and promotions are most important to their shopping experiences, according to a report from Oracle cited by Chain Store Age.

Brick-and-mortar retailers have the opportunity to reap the same benefits of personalization that e-tailers do, like repeat visits and impulse purchases, but they need to invest in the right technologies and techniques to do so because they currently don’t meet shoppers’ expectations. For example, 41% of consumers expect sales associates to know about their previous purchases, but just 19% have experienced this, according to a report from Segment.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence analyzes how physical retail’s personalization is being outperformed by e-commerce’s, and examines the value personalization holds for brick-and-mortar in particular. We also look at what techniques and technologies are available to help retailers identify and track consumers in-store, and how they can be used to bolster their personalization capabilities. Finally, we examine the different channels through which retailers can reach consumers with their personalized offerings in-store.

The companies mentioned in this report are: Amazon, Alibaba, JD.com, Intel, Mastercard, Target, Velocity Worldwide, RetailMeNot, b8ta, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sitecore, Oak Labs, Calabrio, and Alegion.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Consumers say that a personalized shopping experience can inspire loyalty and increases in spending.
• But brick-and-mortar retailers aren't meeting consumers’ in-store personalization expectations.
• The nature of online shopping gives e-commerce the upper hand when it comes to personalization.
• Physical retailers can close the gap in personalization by identifying consumers when they enter, tracking them throughout their journey, and then using that information to inform individualized offerings.
• To make the most of personalized offerings, retailers must consider how content is being presented to consumers in-store, and what the strengths of each channel are.
• If physical retailers fail to improve their in-store personalization, they risk losing sales and market share to e-commerce companies, both online and in-store.

In full, the report:

• Identifies the values of personalization to physical retailers.
• Details the reasons e-tailers currently offer better personalization than brick-and-mortar stores.
• Outlines the technologies and processes that can bolster in-store personalization.
• Discusses how retailers can best present personalized offerings in-store.

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• Coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender non-binary is a personal experience.
• Not everyone is in a position where they can be certain they will receive support.
• INSIDER highlighted different personal accounts from self-identified LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, in transition, intersex, and asexual) Reddit users below.
• Every individual story is unique, and there is no right or wrong way or time to come out.
• Editor's note: some of the content in these stories may be triggering for some individuals who have experienced discrimination or violence because of their sexuality or gender identity.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community is a deeply personal and often life-altering process. Regardless of the individual circumstances, there is no right or wrong way to come out.

Of course, some people who identify as members of the LGBT community may choose to come out in a public way, others will not feel safe to do so, while others never will "officially" come out and simply live their lives. It's important to remember that an individual's decision to come out is their own personal choice. Regardless, reading these stories can be comforting and informative for many.

Online spaces such as the Reddit communities r/Comingout and /r/lgbt, can give people a platform to open up about their experiences and connect with others who can relate.

The following coming out stories from these Reddit users illustrate just how unique those experiences can be. Of course, INSIDER cannot independently authenticate these stories, but they perhaps they can serve as a reminder that no matter what a person's coming out story is, everyone's journey deserves to be heard.

Just a note, we've chosen to leave off names to protect the identities of those who have shared their stories. 

'My fam was playing a game where we had to tell a huge secret about ourselves'

"Well my fam was playing a game where we had to tell a huge secret about ourselves and I was about to make a joke and say, 'I started my period' but I only said the 'I' part so my mom was like, 'Are you gay?' So I was like, 'Uhh yesssss' like freakishly loudly. My mom said she already knew probs because she stole my phone and checked my search history a while back because she's also a helicopter parent."

'I didn't really come out of the closet, my mom opened the door and said, 'Hey, you in there?''

"I joined my high school's GSA freshman year. On a car ride to Target, my mom asked as casually as she could muster if there was any reason for that. I said I'm bisexual, she said 'cool,' and I assume she told my dad because basically, the whole family knew before I even said anything.

"So I didn't really come out of the closet, my mom opened the door and said 'hey, you in there?'"

'Came out to my brother, his girlfriend, and my dad by baking cupcakes'

"First came out to my mom as trans and then months later, came out to my brother, his girlfriend, and my dad by baking cupcakes in the colors of the trans pride flag. It was really hard because I had it in my head that I was gonna get kicked out, turns out my dad is the most supportive person in my life."

'They didn't believe I was gay and had normal parent reactions and to this day ignore the subject'

"Looking back at it I knew I was gay for a while. I just never had emotional or sexual attraction towards any guys until I went on an internship and pulled the old classic of falling for my roommate. I thought the feeling was mutual but obviously, I was blinded or didn't want to believe he was straight. I never told him my feelings for him but it was pretty obvious. I did some things that made it clear such as looking at his text and basically acting like a jealous lover. I suspect he figured it out.

"Anyway ... I flipped when he got a girlfriend and I couldn't contain my feelings anymore so I came out to my social worker. I also got the courage to come out to my friend and brother which went great and they were very supportive.

"When I told my parents after they came to visit it went downhill. They didn't believe I was gay and had normal parent reactions and just to this day ignore the subject and my sexuality which bothers me a lot because I feel like I can't move forward 'til they accept me for who I am."

'I had to ask my friend to look at the comments the next day since I was too afraid to look'

"I spent most of the night before my 25th birthday writing and rewriting a long drawn out post about how I felt. I planned on posting the status on my birthday, near the time I was born, and I pretty much said that I was born as myself and that my life has a funny way of telling me I'm a little different from who I thought I was. I had to ask my friend to look at the comments the next day since I was too afraid to look, but it turns out everyone who saw it was very accepting and warm so I was very lucky."

They told people, 'I look a little different'

"I met people in person, with a, 'I look a little different.' text sent out shortly before."

'My mom read my paper and then sat me down to have a talk about it, I panicked and told her I was a lesbian'

"7th grade we had to describe ourselves in a song and I chose 'Misery' by Maroon 5 for some reason. My mom read my paper and then sat me down to have a talk about it, I panicked and told her I was a lesbian. She was just hugging me and telling me that she would love me no matter what my preferences are. Then she told my dad and he was chill about it."

'I broke their heart by telling them, but their heart was broken because they realized they had a child who was hurting deeply for all of these years without them knowing or being able to help'

"I had resolved that I would never tell my family how I felt unless I absolutely had to. Eventually, I had some life experiences that were just too rich and wonderful and showed me how beautiful our world is and how my concern of being rejected for how I choose to express my feelings was just of little significance.

"I told my sister who was supportive and un-surprised. Finally, and very recently, I told my very conservative parents. I was only able to justify telling them by acknowledging that I was only telling them how I felt, not what I planned to do, and that they couldn't really reject my feelings even if they didn't like my feelings. They could only reject decisions. But ultimately I was met with nothing but love and support.

"I broke their heart by telling them, but their heart was broken because they realized they had a child who was hurting deeply for all of these years without them knowing or being able to help. They want to know how they can best support me, and for the first time in my life, I think that I can be best supported by them and my other loved ones by acknowledging my feelings and my journey on the path to transitioning."

'I responded with, 'I'm gay and hate children' I've never seen a salesman look so ashamed of himself and I also came out to my dad at the same time'

"I was buying a car. My dad was with me and we were at our 4th (and final) dealership of the day. I flat out told the salesman that I wanted to be sold the smallest sedan they had on the lot unless they had a coupe [ … ] First thing out of the salesman's mouth after that was, 'You really should get an SUV in case you accidentally get pregnant.' Me being the jerk I am, I instantly responded with 'I'm gay and hate children. Any kids I have will be extremely well planned and extremely unwanted.' I've never seen a salesman look so ashamed of himself and I also came out to my dad at the same time. Neither guy spoke unless I asked a question after that."

'And I just came dressed as a girl'

"Came out on Black Friday [...]  And I just came dressed as a girl. And then I stayed like that. And a week passed and I was brought into HR and asked if this was permanent, I said yes. And went back to work."

'Showed up at my mother's house with my boyfriend and told her. She didn't like it at first until the day she noticed me being happy …'

"Showed up at my mother's house with my boyfriend and told her. She didn't like it at first until the day she noticed me being happy and proactive with my life. She started finding room in her heart to be on board with it. Now we visit her house once a month for dinner with the whole family. Today I'm in a happy relationship and am two months into my MTF HRT [male to female hormone replacement therapy], so the thing to remember is to give your friends and family time to adjust and gently show them that this is what makes you happy and fingers crossed they accept you for you. "

'I said, 'It's National Coming Out Day''

"I came out a few months ago, on National Coming Out Day. I said 'It's National Coming Out Day' and my mom said 'You have something to come out to me about?' (Jokingly) [I said],  'Yeah, I am gay.'"

'Told two other friends through the topic of crushes, giving them a 'guess my crush' puzzle and plot twist at the end, it's a guy!'

"Told my first friend through text after commenting on how a male anime character was kinda hot ... Told two other friends through the topic of crushes, giving them a 'guess my crush' puzzle and then boom, plot twist at the end, it's a guy!"

'My dad unlocks the door and in comes both my grandmothers. They both just hug me and tell me they love me just the way I am'

"One of my friends got the idea to be my 'date' to Thanksgiving dinner, so that my family wouldn't bug me so much about finding a girlfriend. She knew I was gay, and knew I hadn't told them.

"We go. She's my 'date,' gives me hugs. A little cheek smooch. Sold. Then I see this ... look in my grandmother's face at dinner. It hurt. It hurt to see her beaming over something that was a lie.

"I felt hoooooriiible. Like I just wanted to go crawl into the oven and die next to the turkey. It comes as a surprise to many people, but I practicality NEVER lie to my family.

"For some reason, at the table, my grandpa decided that I should lead grace...

"I don't know if it was just because my head was stuck, or what ... but I just went 'I'm gay' and a river of tears and snot came out of my face so I went and locked myself in my room.

"About an hour goes by and the house is dead quiet. My dad unlocks the door and in comes both my grandmothers. They both just hug me and tell me they love me just the way I am.

"I thought I'd died. My friend sheepishly came into the room and handed me a plate of food. She told me my parents said I can take all the time I need to calm myself, and then come back and celebrate.

"They treated it like it was the best thing since sliced bread and I nearly had p----- my pants."

'I was crying the whole time, but they weren't tears of sadness. Coming out was the biggest weight that ever came off my shoulders'

"I got home from church after my conservative pastor gave his most homophobic sermon yet, and I sobbed into my pillow in my bedroom. My mom heard me and asked what I was crying about. The words were too difficult to speak. But she put things together and realized that I was upset about the sermon, and she finally asked, 'Do you think you're gay?' That's when I said yes. We spent the next hour sitting together on her bed eating In-N-Out french fries while she asked me about all of my high school crushes. I was crying the whole time, but they weren't tears of sadness. Coming out was the biggest weight that ever came off my shoulders."

'It was interesting to see their faces as they processed that Logan was not a girl's name.'

"I told my family the name of my crush after Christmas Eve dinner when I was 16. It was interesting to see their faces as they processed that Logan was not a girls name."

'One of my 'best friends' went and told EVERYONE we knew almost immediately'

"I came out to my friends at 15 — only my two closest [friends] as we're in a fairly rural place and I was worried about it. One of my 'best friends' went and told EVERYONE we knew almost immediately, and when I called them out, her response was 'But no one minds!' I got a lot of s--- about it for years after that. But the total kicker is I dumped her as a friend straight away and her brother messaged me on Facebook apologizing for what she'd done. I've now been dating her brother for 2 and a half years and he hates her too."

'I came out as a trans guy a few years ago not by choice ... I was basically forced to explain'

"I came out as a trans guy a few years ago not by choice (my dad was on my computer and found my personal blog) and I was basically forced to explain. He totally flipped out on me and alternated between laughing in my face and threatening to kick me out.

"A lot of the experience I block out because it's very traumatic. I'm okay now but I ended up living with my grandparents for a while. Coming out isn't always, 'It's okay, we always knew, we'll always love you' and I really envy people with experiences like that."

'Told my stepmom […. ] they kicked me out for about a month and I lived with my grandma'

"Told my stepmom, she called me disgusting and [then] told my dad even though I asked her not to. They kicked me out for about a month and I lived with my grandma. When I went back they put me into church school, took away my phone, TV, clothes that looked too 'Dudeish' (legit just all my T-shirts) and they told me I wasn't allowed to tell anyone."

'I was internally screaming in gay of happiness'

"My friend and I were having a sleepover at her house and we stayed up talking for a long time, both of us telling things that we hadn't shared with anyone before. At this point, it was 5 a.m.

"I have known that I'm gay for quite some time now. I've wanted to come out so badly and until yesterday, I hadn't told anyone (apart from some internet friends). I had sort of decided that if there came an appropriate moment to tell her during that sleepover, I would.

"That moment came when she told me that she thinks she's bi. I was internally screaming in gay of happiness. I said that that is SO COOL and then I told her that I'm gay. She was like WHAAAT THAT'S SO COOL. And then we both were like HSJSKDKDJDJ HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?? Honestly, I was kind of panicking, but it was like in a good way.

"We talked about how we knew, for how long we have known, which girls we've had crushes on and a lot more. It was amazing. I'm the first person she's told as well.

"When I woke up this morning, it was the first thing I thought about. That I told someone. That I opened the door to the closet. It feels weird and almost surreal not to be alone about it anymore, but it feels so right.

"I still have a long way to go and a lot of people to come out to and I know it won't be easy. But now I have started, and it started so epically and felt so good."

The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. Call 1-866-488-7386 to reach the TrevorLifeline available 24/7 or text TREVOR to 1-202-304-1200 to reach TrevorText available M-F from 3 p.m. - 1 p.m.

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• President Donald Trump offered public support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the country's political chaos.
• Trump tweeted in support of Netanyahu's efforts to form a coalition 48 hours before the deadline for putting together a new government.
• The tweet was an unprecedented intervention in another country's coalition negotiations while Netanyahu faces a significant challenge.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump offered unprecedented public support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid tense chaos ahead of a possible snap election in the country.

Trump said in a Monday afternoon tweet that he hopes "things will work out with Israel's coalition formation," the struggle over which has kept the country in a tense period of political instability.

"Hoping things will work out with Israel's coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever," Trump posted on Twitter during his state visit to Japan, using the veteran leader's nickname. "A lot more to do!"

Trump's comment was notable because it was a public show of support amid in coalition negotiations for a contender for power and in a foreign country's politics.

Netanyahu, a controversial figure to back as he's currently facing indictments for bribes, breach of trust, and fraud, thanked Trump for the tweet during a press conference shortly after, saying that "Trump is right – we still have a lot of work to do."

The prime minister was reelected to a fifth term last month, but is facing a fractured government. Reuters reported that the country's parliament decided to dissolve itself in a preliminary vote but are likely to hold a final vote on the matter Wednesday.

If Netanyahu is cannot form a new government by the deadline, Israel would have a second national election in the same year, an unprecedented occurrence, Reuters reported.

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

In the US, the in-store mobile wallet space is becoming increasingly crowded. Most customers have an option provided by their smartphone vendor, like Apple, Android, or Samsung Pay. But those are often supplemented by a myriad of options from other players, ranging from tech firms like PayPal, to banks and card issuers, to major retailers and restaurants.

With that proliferation of options, one would expect to see a surge in adoption. But that’s not the case — though Business Insider Intelligence projects that US in-store mobile payments volume will quintuple in the next five years, usage is consistently lagging below expectations, with estimates for 2019 falling far below what we expected just two years ago. 

As such, despite promising factors driving gains, including the normalization of NFC technology and improved incentive programs to encourage adoption and engagement, it’s important for wallet providers and groups trying to break into the space to address the problems still holding mobile wallets back. These issues include customer satisfaction with current payment methods, limited repeat purchasing, and consumer confusion stemming from fragmentation. But several wallets, like Apple Pay, Starbucks’ app, and Samsung Pay, are outperforming their peers, and by delving into why, firms can begin to develop best practices and see better results.

A new report from Business Insider Intelligence addresses how in-store mobile payments volume will grow through 2021, why that’s below past expectations, and what successful cases can teach other players in the space. It also issues actionable recommendations that various providers can take to improve their performance and better compete.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

• US in-store mobile payments will advance steadily at a 40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to hit $128 billion in 2021. That’s suppressed by major headwinds, though — this is the second year running that Business Insider Intelligence has halved its projected growth rate.
• To power ahead, US wallets should look at pockets of success. Banks, merchants, and tech providers could each benefit from implementing strategies that have worked for early leaders, including eliminating fragmentation, improving the purchase journey, and building repeat purchasing.
• Building multiple layers of value is key to getting ahead. Adding value to the user experience and making wallets as simple and frictionless as possible are critical to encouraging adoption and keeping consumers engaged. 

In full, the report:

• Sizes the US in-store mobile payments market and examines growth drivers.
• Analyzes headwinds that have suppressed adoption.
• Identifies three strategic changes providers can make to improve their results.
• Evaluates pockets of success in the market.
• Provides actionable insights that providers can implement to improve results.

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• Serena Williams won her first round French Open match on Monday.
• But the main talking point after her three sets win was not how she bounced back from a disastrous first set, but what she wore while she played.
• Williams wore a Virgil Abloh outfit that was "pretty epic" according to one prominent tennis journalist.
• "It talks about me being a mom and me being a queen," Williams said. "It's positive reinforcement."
• The American wore her new outfit almost 12 months after she rocked a "Wakanda inspired" catsuit at Roland Garros, that was later banned.
• Her Abloh ensemble is unlikely to provoke such a negative reaction, and she may well be wearing it once again in the second round, later in the week.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Serena Williams beat Vitalia Diatchenko two sets to one in the first round of the French Open on Monday.

Williams struggled in the opening set of the match, losing 6-2, before bouncing back by winning 12 of the last 13 games, to win the second and third sets 6-1 and 6-0.

Though her exemplary ballstriking salvaged what could have been a disastrous end to her clay court season, a key talking point after her win was her outfit.

The "Off-White," zebra-striped, ensemble featured a crop top and skirt designed by Virgil Abloh, who has colloborated with Kanye West and Nike, and is known for the Off-White fashion house he founded in 2013 in Milan, Italy.

Read more: Rafael Nadal accidentally smacked his head on a massive camera just minutes before his opening French Open match

It was "pretty epic" according to Jose Morgado, a prominent tennis journalist for Record, a sports newspaper in Portugal.

Speaking to the Tennis Channel after her first round win, Williams said: "Virgil Abloh designed it and so I was really excited because he's the hottest designer right now and he's amazing.

"It's the second time we've worked together. And it has words in it in French. It talks about me being a mom and me being a queen, as all women are. A champion. It's positive reinforcement for me, and I kind of love that."

See her outfit below:

She teased the look on her official Instagram page on Sunday.

Read more: Everything tennis icon Roger Federer eats and drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Williams wore her Abloh outfit almost 12 months after unveiling a Black Panther-style catsuit at Roland Garros.

Williams said at the time that the catsuit was "Wakanda inspired" and made her feel like a warrior princess from the the smash hit Marvel Comics movie "Black Panther."

But her outfit last year was more than a fashion statement as it was designed to help prevent blood clots after doctors found a hematoma – localized bleeding outside of a vessel – in her body, following the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in 2017.

Not everybody was a fan of Williams' Wakanda catsuit as the president of the French Tennis Federation, Bernard Giudicelli said in an interview with France's Tennis Magazine that "you have to respect the game and the place" and the outfit would no longer be accepted.

With her 2019 French Open victory over Diatchenko, Williams faces either Kurumi Nara or Dalila Jakupovic in the second round later in the week.

It is likely fans will continue to see her in Abloh designed clothing in Paris.

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• President Donald Trump is currently on a four-day state visit to Japan. 
• Trump is traveling closely with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe throughout his visit. 
• The president's public appearances have surfaced questions over Iran, North Korea, and US trade policy, but he's also turned heads at a sumo tournament, on the golf course, and in a selfie. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories

President Donald Trump is currently on a four-day state visit to Japan aimed at showing off the strong relationship between the two nations.

Trump and Abe have had successful public meetings before, and this trip, with its golf round, selfie, and sumo tournament appearance, has painted a similarly in-sync time for the two leaders. 

However, the trip has also surfaced some serious policy matters for Trump, including North Korea, Iran, and the future of US trade. See some key moments of Trump's trip so far. 

SEE ALSO: Most 2020 Democrats on the campaign trail are avoiding calls for Trump's impeachment

DON'T MISS: Meet the Iraq War veteran and presidential candidate who wants to carry on John McCain's legacy of public service for a new generation

Trump and Abe kicked off their public appearances on the trip by posing for a rare selfie while playing golf Sunday.

The photo shows Trump and Abe smiling broadly while playing golf at Mobara Country Club, around an hour's drive east of Tokyo, Japan's capital.

Shinzo and Trump are both keen golfers and have played together before.

Read more: Business Insider 

The leaders and first ladies later attended the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sunday night.

Trump presented the winner with the newly made "Trump Trophy."

The president also broke several traditions during his visit to the tournament, breaking from past precedent to give a presentation between matches. And while viewers generally sit on cushions on the ground, called zabutons, Trump and his wife, Melania, were given chairs. 

People who enter the elevated dirt wrestling ring — called a dohyo — are supposed to be barefoot, but Trump wore slippers as he handed out the award. Some members of the Japanese media suggested that the ring would now have to be reconsecrated after Trump's presentation, according to the Washington Post.

Read more: Business Insider

Before a public discussion with Abe, Trump met with the families of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea.

The Japenese nationals were abducted decades ago to serve as trainers for North Korean spies to become fluent in Japanese language and customs.

North Korea has admitted kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s and returned five to Japan in 2002, according to the BBC. The country has insisted the rest are dead, but Japan has not accepted that response.

Trump said in the press conference after this meeting that the families were "appreciative" of his visit and he intended to "do everything I can for the resolution of this issue," in the future.

Trump made statements about trade, as well as North Korea, and Iran, during a joint press conference with Abe on Monday ahead of their bilateral meeting.

Trump appeared to differ with his own advisors and Abe himself when he said he was "not bothered" by North Korea's missile tests earlier this month.

"My people think it could have been a violation, as you know," Trump said, noting that no nuclear or long-range missiles had been tested. "I view it differently."

Abe said he disagreed with Trump's view on North Korea's missile testing but added that he agreed with Trump on efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Trump said there has been a "tremendous imbalance" of trade between the US and Japan and that both countries are working to bridge the gap.

Despite the friendly disposition between the leaders, Trump stressed that the US was not pleased with its nearly $60 billion trade deficit towards Japan. Trump has threatened to impose higher tariffs on imports of Japanese auto parts unless the two nations can iron out the difference.

"There's been a tremendous imbalance and we're working on that," Trump said of trade between the two nations, adding that the US needed to "do a little catching up with Japan."

"They have been doing much more business with us, we'd like to do a little bit more business in the reverse, we'll get the balance of trade I think straightened out rapidly."

Trump also said he was open to improving US relations with Iran.

"I do believe that Iran would like to talk and if they'd like to talk, we'd like to talk also," newswire AFP reported him as saying. "Nobody wants to see terrible things happen, especially me."

Read more: Business Insider

Trump became the first world leader to meet Japan's Emperor Naruhito since he ascended to the throne earlier this month.

Trump met with the 59-year-old and his wife, Empress Masako, in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo following an elaborate procession in an outdoor welcome ceremony. The president and first lady walked down a red carpet past a Japanese honor guard and were excitedly greeted by crowds waving US and Japanese flags.

The emperor exchanged gifts with Trump, as is customary, handing the US president an item of traditional Japenese pottery, while Trump gave Naruhito an American-made viola. Both sides also swapped signed and framed photos of one another, according to the Washington Post.

"It's a very important thing, not only in Japan, but all over the world they're talking about it," Trump later said of his meeting with the emperor.

Read more: Here's everything you need to know about Emperor Naruhito, who has taken over the throne in Japan after the country's first abdication in 200 years

• Tiger Woods was asked about the rookie gambler who won $1.2 million on Tiger's Masters win.
• Woods confidently noted that it was a great bet in a way that suggested he knew it was a great bet all along.
• Woods then called the gambler a "dumba--" for also betting on Tiger to win all four majors this year and complete the grand slam.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tiger Woods announced that he was back with authority when he won the Masters earlier this year. 

That win was also huge for one bold, rookie gambler who wagered $85,000 before the tournament and won $1.2 million. Unfortunately, after the Masters, that person then bet $100,000 on Tiger winning the next three majors and completing the grand slam.

Read more: The person who won $1.2 million on Tiger Woods at the Masters bet $100,000 that Tiger will win the next 3 majors and finish the Grand Slam

Woods was asked about the bet on the driving range at "Tiger Jam" on Friday in Las Vegas. His response was perfect.

"F---ing great bet," Tiger said. "He's a dumba-- for the grand slam part though."

Yes, the bet to win four straight majors was not a smart one, and in hindsight, of course, the first bet was a great one. But there is just something about the way Tiger responded to the initial bet. The way he says it with confidence and without missing a beat on his swing suggests Woods knew it was a good bet even before the tournament. 

It is reminiscent of Tiger's reaction after the first round at the Masters when he gave a sly grin that suggested he knew he was about to shock the world.

Read more: Tiger Woods gave an answer and a grin after the first round of the Masters that should scare the bejesus out of his opponents

It is one thing to say Tiger is back because he is again winning majors. But it seems that confident Tiger has returned also, and the sports world is better for it.

• Read more:
• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The last 27 QBs taken in the first round of the NFL Draft and how this year's crop compares
• Here's Michael Jordan's 56,000-square-foot house in Chicago, and why it's still on the market after 6 years
• The 27 biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 15 years
• Tiger Woods staged one of the biggest sports comebacks ever at the Masters — here's how he spends his millions and lives his life off the course

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• Apple just released a refreshed version of the iPod Touch with improved specs and better performance.
• Most people may use their phones for music and gaming, but many people still love to have a dedicated music player for storing music files and large apps.
• The iPod Touch starts at $199, which is far cheaper than any iPhone, and it has a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can use wired headphones.
• Here are all the specs, features, and prices of the new iPod Touch.

In 2019, the vast majority of people listen to music on their phones, but there's definitely still a case to be made for having a dedicated music player. To that end, Apple has announced a new version of the iPod Touch with improved performance and a slightly tweaked design.

The new device has a lot to offer, but perhaps best of all for many people, the iPod Touch has a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you don't have to go out and buy wireless headphones or an adapter to use your wired headphones. You can just plug them right in and start listening.

Apple has also given the new iPod Touch the A10 Fusion processor, which is the same high-performance chip that was used in the iPhone 7. Not only that, but for the first time ever, the iPod Touch now offers up to 256GB of storage, which is perfect for holding all the songs and games you want.

That's not all that's new, though. On top of the extra specs, Apple has also given the new iPod Touch support for features like Group FaceTime and ARKit.

The design has been tweaked a little, too. On the front of the device, you'll get a Home button that does not have Touch ID. The button is located right under a 4-inch, 1,136 x 640-pixel resolution screen.

The new iPod Touch is available in a range of different colors, including blue, pink, red, silver, gold, and space gray, so there should be something for everyone.

In general, the device is perfect for those who want a small music player that isn't their phone or as a great way to introduce mobile devices to kids.

The iPod Touch is pretty affordable, too, at least compared to the iPhone and iPad. Prices range from $199 for the 32GB version to $399 for the 256GB model.

Get the iPod Touch from Apple for $199 (32GB) to $399 (256GB)

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• China just took over Baoshang Bank, a small bank in Inner Mongolia that purported to have a pretty clean balance sheet. It's the country's first public bank takeover in two decades.
• There are three reasons China could've taken it over — because it was part of a huge "gray rhino conglomerate"; because it was a "credit risk," according to regulators; and/or because policymakers are trying to introduce moral hazard into China's debt-laden financial system.
• If the last two are correct, hold on to your hats.

The question isn't why the Chinese government took over Baoshang Bank — a small commercial bank in Inner Mongolia — but rather why the government told us it took over the bank at all, and what that rare disclosure means for China's banking system at large. 

The Baoshang takeover is the first public government takeover of a Chinese bank since the country's financial crisis in the late 1990s, but it's certainly not the first takeover in general. Over the last two decades the government has many times recapitalized struggling banks or forced them to merge with state banks or other trusted corporations. When it has done this, though, it has done it quietly.

That's what makes this Baoshang situation so strange. The fact that regulators are injecting some fear into the market.

"One of the more unusual aspects of the Baoshang drama is that it's been reported — not only that, but high-level authorities have publicly expressed concern that there may be bank runs and financial institutions that 'disappear,'" J Capital Research, a China-focused investment firm, wrote in a note to clients.

"This is peculiar for an economy that claims to be growing at 6.5%, have average NPL rates under 1.5%, and that has buoyant construction and property markets."

What a fool believes

As J Capital notes, if you buy the statistics — China's financial system shouldn't have a problem. 

Perhaps in the same way, if you look at Baoshang's latest numbers, it shouldn't really have a problem either. The bank hasn't released an annual report since 2016 (published in 2017), but back then it showed a non-performing-loan (NPL) rate of 1.68%, according to the investment bank Nomura. That's up from 1.41% a year before — so not terrible on paper, especially not with $60.8 billion in assets and $27 billion in deposits.

This certainly does not appear to be a bank that poses "credit risks" as the Chinese government cited in its takeover decision.

But there are other peculiar, and perhaps equally important, things to note about Baoshang too.

• It was part of a massive conglomerate called Tomorrow Group, which is controlled by a fund manager named Xiao Jianhua.
• In 2017, Xiao, who used to run money for China's elite, was arrested for fraud and embezzlement in Hong Kong. Right after that, Baoshang's credit rating was downgraded.
• China has cracked down on similar huge financial conglomerates (like Anbang Insurance) over the past few years. These are so-called "gray rhinos" that the government believes are so large and opaque that they can hide issues. 
• One source told Chinese business publication Caixin that Baoshang functioned as a "cash machine" for Tomorrow Holdings, and another said that it had helped Tomorrow put together at least $21.7 billion in funding through shadowy practices.

So is this takeover about Baoshang's parent company? Or Baoshang's balance sheet? Or is it about messaging to China's financial sector that moral hazard has been introduced? 

How about a little of all three?

A wise man has the power to reason away

If the Baoshang takeover is about the parent company, consider this a continuation of the detangling of opaque "gray rhino" conglomerate assets that the government has been undertaking for some time. It is not, then, some kind of warning of some potential cataclysmic financial event.

If it's about Baoshang's balance sheet then consider it yet another example of the most dangerous tension in China's debt-riddled financial system. To keep the system growing, banks have to continue to extend more and more credit, but not all of that credit is going to be good. As J Capital noted, Baoshang "is involved in literally thousands of lawsuits seeking repayment of delinquent loans, with interest as high as 18%, or 24% with penalties, generally secured in side agreements." 

What this tells us is that the balance sheets of Chinese banks are not to be trusted. On paper (at least the latest ones available for the public/media to see) Baoshang is healthy. The government is acknowledging that papers lie — a dangerous notion to introduce in a country where economists already question basic gross-domestic-product data.

Lastly, if this is about moral hazard, then perhaps regulators are telling the market to prepare for some losses. As Nomura pointed out, "regulators did not state they would guarantee all the liabilities of Baoshang Bank," adding that depositors and creditors with over 50 million Chinese yuan of assets at the bank "will need to negotiate with the takeover task-force for repayment."

Before you chock that up to China's trade war with the US, remember that the Chinese economy has been slowing for some time. At the end of last year and into the beginning of this year, policymakers were legitimately worried, and Xi Jinping has for months been warning that things were going to get more difficult economically. Trade war or not, deleveraging the financial system was going to be painful for China.

So perhaps policymakers are telling the market that there are too many balls in the air now, and some of them are going to have to hit the ground.  Point is, at least they're letting us know.

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