Ideas on Personal Finance
When I started investing, I made the common beginner’s mistake – I started by buying and selling stocks. Over the years, I have learned that buying stocks / mutual funds / real estate / etc., should be the last step in investing. Below, I have highlighted three steps to take before investing. Hopefully, it will … Read more
Joseph Heller – a famous novelist – was at a party hosted by a billionaire hedge fund manager. A guest informed Heller that the hedge fund manager had made more money in a single day than Heller had earned from his wildly popular novel Catch 22. Heller responded, “Yes, but I have something he will … Read more
The last few months have been painful for investors. Some of my stocks are down 50% or more! I know the stock market goes up over the long term. But, in times like these, it is tempting to just sell everything. Two things help me overcome this temptation and allow me to stay invested. 1. … Read more
I used to think that Warren Buffett is one of the world’s wealthiest people because he is a great investor. Well, he is a great investor. But there is something else that has made him super-rich. Look at the graph below that shows his net worth by age: Buffett did not become a billionaire until … Read more
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A friend recently told me about her college professor, an ex-marine. The #1 thing he wanted students to take away from his course was to have a ‘Go To Hell’ fund. But what exactly is a Go To Hell fund? It means having enough money saved that if you do not like your work situation, … Read more
Nowadays, it is impossible to visit any online finance forum without reading how someone lost 40% in Bitcoin, 60% on an NFT, 80% in a SPAC, etc. I am not sure why people take such risks with their hard-earned money. When someone wants a root canal procedure, they go to a dentist. But when it … Read more
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Delayed gratification is the most important trait for financial success. To delay gratification is to resist the temptation of immediate pleasure for future benefit. Nature has wired us to seek instant rewards and not worry about tomorrow. Modern consumerism culture and advertising make it almost impossible to resist the temptation to spend money. However, numerous … Read more
Here is an interesting thought experiment – would you switch places with Warren Buffet? When I ask this question, people say – Yes. After all, who would not want to be a multi-billionaire? But in addition to being rich, you will also be 91 years old. When given this information, almost everyone changes their answer! … Read more
The 5 Chimps Theory states that you are an average of the five people you spend the most time with. Like it or not – you are greatly influenced by the 5 people closest to you. Most of your conversations are with these people. They affect your mood and drive your behavior. They influence your … Read more
In a world that glorifies busyness and celebrates productivity, I recently embarked on a daring adventure – I did absolutely nothing for a week! As a consultant, I was always focused on productivity and getting things done. So ‘doing nothing’ was particularly hard. But the holidays offered a great time and excuse to try something … Read more