When I was 18, I had an encounter that got me noticing the phenomenon of robots replacing jobs in our society. And the sad part is how easily the person in this story let it happen. I was a teenager busing tables part-time and collecting tips. They had just opened a branch of the bank I went to inside a local super-market near my work. “Great”, I thought. “Now I can just conveniently swing by on my way to work and deposit my money." Well, little did I know, things weren't going to be that easy. Every time (it seemed) I would walk in, there was always this one grumpy bank-teller who just looked disgusted every time I would approach the counter with my deposit slip and money. “You know …”, she’d say “there’s ATM right around the … [Read more...] about How To Keep Our Jobs From Being Replaced By Robots
Lifestyle
Thinking BIGGER Than Early Retirement – Could You Build a Financial Legacy?
We’re almost there. For years, my wife and I have been aggressively saving towards our goal of early retirement, and according to our plan, things are right on track. Maybe too well … As an engineer by trade, I know the value of building in a good safety margin to your plan. And right now, ours has a pretty large one! But having taken some pretty important steps forward lately with estate planning, all of this has got me thinking: What if retirement (or even early retirement at that) is just the beginning? What planning for retirement is like standing in an art gallery and focusing on just one single picture in front of you? But when we take a step back, we realize there’s a WHOLE wall in this gallery we could have … [Read more...] about Thinking BIGGER Than Early Retirement – Could You Build a Financial Legacy?
The American Dream Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Different Now
One of the sensational headlines I often see tossed around is the notion that the "American Dream" is dead, and that it’s impossible for the average person to “get ahead” anymore. But is that really true? Are we all really being held back by some invisible force, or has our idea of what the American Dream should be just become so skewed that we’re chasing after something that never really existed in the first place? The Origin of the American Dream The term “the American Dream” is credited to James Truslow Adams who wrote in 1931: "Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.” America was seen … [Read more...] about The American Dream Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Different Now
Planting the Seeds of Human Capital: Your Greatest Investment
As the year comes to a close and I become another year wiser, I realize more and more how secondary money really is in the grand scheme of life. “Most of us” know this to be true about all the cliché things like bigger homes, more expensive cars, luxury jewelry, and so on. But what’s harder to define is that grey area in the middle … the place between having just enough for both now and the future, but not compromising our other priorities in life. This is a difficult line to walk. In general, a lot of us believe that striving to work harder and earn more is a good thing. Most of the time it is … so long as we are not missing the mark completely. Want to know what I’m talking about? Hop in the car and go visit the local … [Read more...] about Planting the Seeds of Human Capital: Your Greatest Investment
Good Scary Movies to Watch This Halloween – 2016 Edition
It's time to put aside hardcore saving tips and retirement planning strategies for a few minutes and talk about something a little more seasonal: Which scary movies are the best to watch this Halloween! Aside from cinnamon apple cider donuts and carving pumpkins, scaring myself silly watching a boat-load of horror movies is one of my favorite things to do all throughout October. And why not? It's cheap entertainment! Most of the major TV channels get into the "spirit" (... bad Halloween pun ...) by re-running marathons of all the horror classics. Or if you're keeping up with modern times, there are plenty of good options via Netflix streaming, Amazon Prime, Redbox, and even YouTube. (I've come to learn that if you simply type in … [Read more...] about Good Scary Movies to Watch This Halloween – 2016 Edition
F-You Money & Talent – The Only Unemployment Insurance You Have
Recently a friend of mine was let go from his job. It was one of those situations where he worked at the same place for 11 years and worked his way up the ladder. Then, one morning, he was asked to come up to the front conference room. Without much of a reason or excuse, he was told he was done. Hit by a train that came out of no where. I’m always a little unsettled when I hear the news of someone I know and respect being let go from the job they've worked so hard at. Perhaps it's because it reminds me of just how vulnerable we all really are when it comes to this thing we call employment. One of the hard truths that we must accept about our jobs is that they're really just paradigms made of glass. As we get better and … [Read more...] about F-You Money & Talent – The Only Unemployment Insurance You Have
Batman and Money – The Connection and What We Can Learn From It
Go to the theater and the message is clear: Everyone LOVES super hero movies! Disney is practically printing money using the success of the Marvel studio franchises. Since Iron Man, they’ve made over $10 billion dollars! And Warner Bros is no fool either. They hope to capture some of that market share with their upcoming line-up of DC-based comic book action movies. So, what exactly is the draw to these movies? Why are they so irresistible? And what makes us have to rush out on opening day with the whole family to spend +$50 and be the first to see them? I’m Batman! When I was a kid, my favorite super-hero, by far, was Batman. I was right about at that tender age of 9 when the Tim Burton mega-hit was released back … [Read more...] about Batman and Money – The Connection and What We Can Learn From It
The History of Black Friday and Other Fun Stats
This week, millions of people will scarf down their turkey dinners, prematurely leave the table (and the company of their families), and then head into the night to spend billions of dollars on tablets, smart phones, flat-screen TV’s, and other gifts for people on their Christmas lists. In fact, according to Statistic Brain, 23% of Black Friday retail shoppers will camp out at a store, arriving at midnight or before. If you plan to partake in this festival of consumerism, here are some interesting trivia facts surrounding Black Friday for you to ponder and talk about with the other people next to you in line. Or if you don’t plan to go out, maybe you can impress your family members with this random knowledge to help pass the phases … [Read more...] about The History of Black Friday and Other Fun Stats
