untitled 01 | 07.05.2022

With rising prices for consumer goods and cost of living going up, Millennials and Gen Z are being told to pick up more shifts, get a second job, cut out streaming services, coffee, etc etc…fine, yet

How many districts are advocating to add financial literally and entrepreneurial courses to schools in underserved communities to help them thrive in the future?

I grew up in Paramount, CA, a city neighboring Long Beach and Compton, whose communities were predominantly Hispanic and Black and as far as I can remember, the only focus schools had for me was to be a better test taker to improve the schools ratings.

Financial literacy courses were nowhere in our curriculum – no classes on “How to Invest” or “What is the Stock Market”, “This is How to Prepare for a Bear Market”, “What is an Emergency Fund and Why is it Important”, “This is What Inflation Does to your Spending Power”, “How to Start a Business”, “Benefits of Having Life Insurance”, “Growing Job Markets”, “How to Negotiate a Salary”.

The only lessons I ever received regarding finances was from my parents, and they were simple. Try not to be in debt. Save your money. That’s it. There was no supporting evidence or further explanation other than the statements presented. Of course, these lessons were not as helpful and none of it their fault. They too, didn’t know a lot of finances other than what bank accounts were and how they can be useful. Both my parents emigrated from Mexico to pursue their American Dream in hopes of a better life and opportunities, you know the cliché they sell you. To no surprise, they both graduated HS in the States, but you guessed it, they were not taught anything about finances or how to prepare for life after HS other than chasing the next American Dream – College. Sound familiar?

And as I reflect on this thought, their American Dream is not mine – it’s not ours. Being born in the U.S already surpasses our parent’s dreams who again, came to a country for a better opportunity.  I have all the opportunity they didn’t have, yet, I still wasn’t prepared. Why?

When it came to making it in the business that is America, my family had no crumbs to throw me. Like many first generation children, you are set up as the golden child to make it in America and pass on any acquired knowledge to the rest of the family. That said, a very important lesson I learned later in life finally made sense and can be applied during these times. What you consume, you become.

When your attention is occupied doing things that make “YOU” feel better, you forget the macro and come across a friend called “opportunity cost”. In my coming of age years, my attention was engaged elsewhere, that finance and career structure was not an important vessel I was investing in. Once I realized that figuring these two out would help improve your life immensely, I made it my mission to change our trajectory.

COVID altered so many universes. Some lost loved ones, other ended up losing businesses, yet there were people that became millionaires and thrived. If only there was a blueprint on how to prepare and benefit in the event the government prints out $6.55T as part of relief package for the economy. If only. All-in spending was approaching $13T as of mid-2021. That’s more than the US spent in its 13 most expensive wars combined. In short, what was realized is the following: The government is not your friend, they never will be. All you have are the connections you make and the partnerships you choose to put together. Equity is king.

If there is one thing I can pass on to the upcoming generation of 16-24 year old’s, it’s to check in with yourself and be okay with being different. Having different goals and visions is okay. Wanting to fit in for the clout and validation of others including family, runs your opportunity cost pockets deep. First it takes your time and freedom, and then it comes after your dreams. Start a business as soon as you can and invest as early as you can.

Remember what you consume you become? Take a look at the pages you follow and the content you consume on a daily basis and that should be an indicator on what your future might hold. Some great pages to follow that are leading a revolution are @earnyourleisure, @masterinvestor, @19keys, @wallstreet504, @punk6529, @cory_eth.

The answers don’t come to you over night, but patience and willingness to try and fail give you a greatest experience there is. The only people who look like fools are the ones who don’t try because of the “judgment”.

Thank you for your time.

untitled 01 | 07.05.2022

With rising prices for consumer goods and cost of living going up, Millennials and Gen Z are being told to pick up more shifts, get a second job, cut out streaming services, coffee, etc etc…fine, yet

How many districts are advocating to add financial literally and entrepreneurial courses to schools in underserved communities to help them thrive in the future?

I grew up in Paramount, CA, a city neighboring Long Beach and Compton, whose communities were predominantly Hispanic and Black and as far as I can remember, the only focus schools had for me was to be a better test taker to improve the schools ratings.

Financial literacy courses were nowhere in our curriculum – no classes on “How to Invest” or “What is the Stock Market”, “This is How to Prepare for a Bear Market”, “What is an Emergency Fund and Why is it Important”, “This is What Inflation Does to your Spending Power”, “How to Start a Business”, “Benefits of Having Life Insurance”, “Growing Job Markets”, “How to Negotiate a Salary”.

The only lessons I ever received regarding finances was from my parents, and they were simple. Try not to be in debt. Save your money. That’s it. There was no supporting evidence or further explanation other than the statements presented. Of course, these lessons were not as helpful and none of it their fault. They too, didn’t know a lot of finances other than what bank accounts were and how they can be useful. Both my parents emigrated from Mexico to pursue their American Dream in hopes of a better life and opportunities, you know the cliché they sell you. To no surprise, they both graduated HS in the States, but you guessed it, they were not taught anything about finances or how to prepare for life after HS other than chasing the next American Dream – College. Sound familiar?

And as I reflect on this thought, their American Dream is not mine – it’s not ours. Being born in the U.S already surpasses our parent’s dreams who again, came to a country for a better opportunity.  I have all the opportunity they didn’t have, yet, I still wasn’t prepared. Why?

When it came to making it in the business that is America, my family had no crumbs to throw me. Like many first generation children, you are set up as the golden child to make it in America and pass on any acquired knowledge to the rest of the family. That said, a very important lesson I learned later in life finally made sense and can be applied during these times. What you consume, you become.

When your attention is occupied doing things that make “YOU” feel better, you forget the macro and come across a friend called “opportunity cost”. In my coming of age years, my attention was engaged elsewhere, that finance and career structure was not an important vessel I was investing in. Once I realized that figuring these two out would help improve your life immensely, I made it my mission to change our trajectory.

COVID altered so many universes. Some lost loved ones, other ended up losing businesses, yet there were people that became millionaires and thrived. If only there was a blueprint on how to prepare and benefit in the event the government prints out $6.55T as part of relief package for the economy. If only. All-in spending was approaching $13T as of mid-2021. That’s more than the US spent in its 13 most expensive wars combined. In short, what was realized is the following: The government is not your friend, they never will be. All you have are the connections you make and the partnerships you choose to put together. Equity is king.

If there is one thing I can pass on to the upcoming generation of 16-24 year old’s, it’s to check in with yourself and be okay with being different. Having different goals and visions is okay. Wanting to fit in for the clout and validation of others including family, runs your opportunity cost pockets deep. First it takes your time and freedom, and then it comes after your dreams. Start a business as soon as you can and invest as early as you can.

Remember what you consume you become? Take a look at the pages you follow and the content you consume on a daily basis and that should be an indicator on what your future might hold. Some great pages to follow that are leading a revolution are @earnyourleisure, @masterinvestor, @19keys, @wallstreet504, @punk6529, @cory_eth.

The answers don’t come to you over night, but patience and willingness to try and fail give you a greatest experience there is. The only people who look like fools are the ones who don’t try because of the “judgment”.

Thank you for your time.