The new online show "Quarterlife" is now on MySpace TV. I've only seen the first episode and it look promising. There is talk that it'll be on NBC sometime next season because they are in dire need.
In either case, it'll be interesting to see how they genuinely resonate about issues of twentysomethings. It is by the same people that did "Thirtysomething," so they have a thing for generational stuff.
In other news, my brain is mush because I finished my first draft of my thesis yesterday, but I promise to start doing more next week.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
I'm investing in a good time instead of a good mutual fund...
Raise your hand if you freaked out about retirement in the past 24 hours.
If you're 35 and younger, I see that hand not raised.
Honestly, unless you're a heavy investor and are trying to catch up to Buffett and Gates, most M.A.Y.A.'s don't think about much about retirement, investing, or even savings.
A MSNBC article on slacker savings talks about the same things. Frankly, Gen Xers aren't saving much and consultants fret about not having clients with disposable income in 25 years. One company has created the GendeX Mutual Fund, an investment portfolio geared to the Gen X crowd. Only requiring $100 to enroll and a mutual fund package that includes investments in Apple and American Apparel. Not shabby, even if the fees are a bit expensive.
Investing doesn't have the same ring to it as it did for my parent's generation. Mostly, people want to buy a house (which I've already done, and let me tell you, be VERY CAREFUL) and enjoy life.
I'm sure there are various reasons, but in my opinion, the main issue is that framing the future isn't the same for this generation as it has been for previous generations. There is no set period to retire, as there is no set period to work. In that I mean that people will work in many different places and probably do a few different things. The initial plan of 401(k) and pensions were based upon compensation for staying with one company. As it is with health care, that simply isn't the case anymore.
Plus, what do you invest in? Mutual funds are quickly becoming a business with service products. Honestly, how many of your friends now sell some sort of insurance and investment plans?
Even fundamental, the growing gap in costs vs. salaries is beyond ridiculous and combined with a deficit philosophy, it's nearly a necessity that people borrow. While personal finance "gurus" can write column and column on how to live within your means and how not to eat sushi all the item to cut down on debt, it's disingenuous to those that have to be in debt to survive. That doesn't even get into loans for education...don't get me started on that.
If anyone wants to truly encourage saving and investment, it has to be in the rubric of values and realities that actually are values and realities. Mutual fund packages have to be smaller, creating more opportunity for diversity and long-term growth. More emphasis has to be on more choice in companies to invest in (yay sustainable investing!) and more options in alleviating and refinancing debt.
We aren't slackers, we're smarter than that and understand that the values of prosperity and livelihood has changed. Maybe Wall Street and MSNBC will get that someday.
If you're 35 and younger, I see that hand not raised.
Honestly, unless you're a heavy investor and are trying to catch up to Buffett and Gates, most M.A.Y.A.'s don't think about much about retirement, investing, or even savings.
A MSNBC article on slacker savings talks about the same things. Frankly, Gen Xers aren't saving much and consultants fret about not having clients with disposable income in 25 years. One company has created the GendeX Mutual Fund, an investment portfolio geared to the Gen X crowd. Only requiring $100 to enroll and a mutual fund package that includes investments in Apple and American Apparel. Not shabby, even if the fees are a bit expensive.
Investing doesn't have the same ring to it as it did for my parent's generation. Mostly, people want to buy a house (which I've already done, and let me tell you, be VERY CAREFUL) and enjoy life.
I'm sure there are various reasons, but in my opinion, the main issue is that framing the future isn't the same for this generation as it has been for previous generations. There is no set period to retire, as there is no set period to work. In that I mean that people will work in many different places and probably do a few different things. The initial plan of 401(k) and pensions were based upon compensation for staying with one company. As it is with health care, that simply isn't the case anymore.
Plus, what do you invest in? Mutual funds are quickly becoming a business with service products. Honestly, how many of your friends now sell some sort of insurance and investment plans?
Even fundamental, the growing gap in costs vs. salaries is beyond ridiculous and combined with a deficit philosophy, it's nearly a necessity that people borrow. While personal finance "gurus" can write column and column on how to live within your means and how not to eat sushi all the item to cut down on debt, it's disingenuous to those that have to be in debt to survive. That doesn't even get into loans for education...don't get me started on that.
If anyone wants to truly encourage saving and investment, it has to be in the rubric of values and realities that actually are values and realities. Mutual fund packages have to be smaller, creating more opportunity for diversity and long-term growth. More emphasis has to be on more choice in companies to invest in (yay sustainable investing!) and more options in alleviating and refinancing debt.
We aren't slackers, we're smarter than that and understand that the values of prosperity and livelihood has changed. Maybe Wall Street and MSNBC will get that someday.
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