From the Bottom of the Bucket

Money Madness

“Give me money, that's what I want  ” – The Beatles

The bane of capitalism is materialism and greedy consumerism.   Every where we go we are bombarded by information about mult- mullti million dollar stories of CEO's huge pay bonuses, lottery winners, sports figures, and now even the education institutions. A $500 million lottery winner? Really?  A severance package of $100 million?  A signing bonus for $200 million.  Coaching for millions of dollars, while students bear tuition and student loan burdens.  How did we get to the point where anybody could think they need that much money?

In financial planning, we led our clients though the process of setting goals that they felt would provide meaning to their lives, then we did calculation as to what resources would be necessary to fill those goals..not once in my forty plus years of advising, did anyone say , I want to be worth $100 million dollars.

Don't get me wrong, it does take a certain amount of financial resources to fulfill your independence.  Most of us spend our entire working lives trying to accumulate enough assets to do so. But at what cost?  I have been an advocate of a  balanced approach since the very beginning of this blog  and  I still am. It nauseates me to see these people trying to rack up more and more, often losing their ethics and integrity along the way.  There are exceptions (like Bill Gates and his wife), who use this wealth to help others, but there are all too many stories about Wolfs of Wall Street (take the current tuition bribe scandal), who can't satisfy their need for identity unless their balance sheet is over flowing with dollars they don't need.

It s  so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that money will bring you happiness.  That things will bring meaning to your life.  As I enter the Autumn of my life, I see this is simply not so.  You must invest in the other dimensions of wealth (relationships, growth, etc) if you want to have a chance of leaving this earth a better place than you entered it.

Live within your means, control your urges, and focus on your goals.  Stay true to your mission statement  and keep your reputation solid.  If you do these things, you will exponentially increase the odds that you will look back on your life with satisfaction and pride,. 

Until next month, I wish you fulfillment.

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob