Thursday, September 26, 2013

Choosing your economic caste

My deposit day snuck up on me but I want to continue the discussion I started in my evil shareholders post.

Since the Great Recession of 2008 there has been a lot of animosity from the middle class to the rich. Ok well lets face it, its always been there but its really intensified since then. The rich were the cause of the stock market crash hurting everyone's 401ks, they caused the housing bubble to pop, they caused millions of jobs to disappearr. Right or wrong, truth to that statement or not, that is what I've seen is the middle class's perception because the rich shareholders as a whole have come out richer and not seen to be struggling like the middle class employees.

Further complicating the issue of dividing up people in an us vs them mentality is an economic caste mentality in society. Economic caste in this case meaning: employee, upper management, shareholder.
I've had 12 jobs in my working career since I was 18 years old. I've worked for two of the Dow Jones companies. I've found it absolutely amazing how strong the following mentality is. ..
The way the middle class makes money is through their job.
Gotta work hard to get that promotion for a better job. Gotta go to college for a better job. When I bring up investing to my coworkers I'm often given a blank stare, told they don't know anything about investing, or told they don't have the money for investing. The conversation is often changed back to bitching about how bad they have it in their job. The middle class doesn't invest, that takes millions of dollars. I've even been told a 401k isn't investing its saving for retirement.

The ironic part of all of this is employee vs shareholder struggle going on is that we all choose to be in the economic caste that we are in. My experience as an employee is that to be really successful you have to compromise yourself. Brown nose ass kissing, sleeping with your boss, knowing someone on the inside to pull strings to get you a job or promotion, putting yourself into massive debt for that 4 year college degree, being a white male. While it is possible to be successful on your own merits, it is harder then what I listed above.

Through all this struggle, hard work, and moral compromising there is that other caste. The evil shareholder, controller of society and destroyer of middle class lives. How does one become a member of this lofty club of people with the power?
Do you have $38 to buy 1 share of Coca cola stock?
There is no discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation. You do not have to compromise your morals. There is no being the new guy who has to go get the coffee and be the whipping boy. You do not have to work 70+ hours a week to meet a deadline for your boss.
Its open to everyone who is willing to set aside some of their money to improve themselves.
It seems to me that there is a difference in good and evil but not what the middle class focuses on.

"But Pully. I don't have any money. Buying stock? Ain't nobody have time for that! Its the rich shareholders who have all the money!"
The iPhone 5c and 5s are out. It recently blew expectations selling 9 million units in a weekend. Each of those people paid $200-$400 for that new phone, to replace their existing "outdated" iPhone 4. On top of that to have a data plan they need to pay +$40 more a month vs just a regular cellphone plan. $40 a month so you can look at cat videos on your phone. $40 sounds a lot like $38 to me.
That is why I own Apple (AAPL)


Disclaimer: The investments and trades discussed are not recommendations for others. I am not a financial planner, financial advisor, accountant, or tax adviser. The financial actions I talk about are for my own portfolio and money and only suited for my own risk tolerance, strategy, and ideas. Copying another person's financial moves can lead to large losses. Each person needs to do their due diligence in researching and planning their own actions in the financial markets.

6 comments:

  1. When I told people I invest in the stock market they laughed. They say its gambling. Then they say they invest in mutual funds. Other people told me that "you only live once and your money is for you to spend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is funny how quickly people call investing gambling.
      If we really want to get down to it... ok sure its gambling. But with stop losses, position sizing, seasonality, tech analysis, fundamental analysis, and above all patience.... we shift the odds in our favor. We become the house.

      Delete
  2. I have a hard time understanding people sometimes. I drive a 2000 honda civic with 250,000 miles and several dents etc. I keep it clean inside and even wax it when I wash it. People are always quick to comment on the beater. Its these same people that take loans out to purchase new trucks that get poor mileage, then complain about how they can't afford fuel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I hear you on that one. I have a 1998 acura. 180,000 miles. Get comments that I've had it forever and why wouldn't I want a new car.
      A better question is "Why wouldn't I want a $300/month payment?"

      Delete
  3. You're, composition, main theme synopsis and general writing has just lept up tremendously in the last few weeks ...

    Yeup ... since quitting YouTube ...

    Sad we can't just commincate via 'face' through a medium, but you put the medium 'effort' comments well.

    Oh, and you suck for missing Vent tonight

    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know it was officially changed :P

      Funny you mention "since quitting YouTube". I feel like a college professor who is no longer talking to first year students but now talking with academic peers.

      Thanks for the compliment man.

      Delete