Blog Archives

The Dark Side Of Being A Billionaire's Child

11/22/2015

This is a contributed/guest posting. This writer of this post has requested to remain anonymous.

People think that I have it easy, and they’d be partly right. However, they don’t know the dark side of being the spawn of billionaire parents. Actually, neither my father nor my mother are billionaires, but combined they are. To be honest, I don’t know their exact net worth because I’ve never asked and I’m fairly certain they wouldn’t discuss it with me. I am hesitant to give away too much information about my parents, but the vast majority of their wealth comes from old money, venture capital and investments. I don’t know how life might be for new money children, but this is how it was for me…

The “good” part of being their son/daughter was that I could literally buy whatever I wanted. It might sound shallow, but I did enjoy this benefit. If I wanted a new phone, I got it instantly. When I turned 16, I could get any car I wanted and then got another one that Christmas… and another one for my 17th birthday. For the most part, I was homeschooled because our life was nothing but travel. My mom and dad would always travel the world and I would go with them. This might sound like a wonderful lifestyle, but both parents would be attached to their phones and computers the entire time. We flew private and would rent private homes wherever we stayed.

Don’t think that my parents are some cold, distant figures that only care about money. We had a close relationship and although we didn’t spend a lot of time together, the time that we did spend together was quality. We had the whole deal – butlers, cooks, maids, tutors, everything. We had to, with the size of our estates. I could barely keep track of the people my parents employed. There were only a few people who stayed for years, and I guess you could say I was “raised” by the butlers and maids, or the three that stayed a long time.

You would think that minimal parenting and an endless supply of money would be heaven on earth, but there were so many restrictions. I can’t even begin to describe the amount of security my parents had wherever we went. And our house? Cameras, so many cameras. I would accidentally trip alarms and I would never have any privacy. You would think that I could hide boyfriends/girlfriends in such a big house… forget about it. You see the security devices everywhere. In your bedroom, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the garages.

Because I was homeschooled and because we traveled so much, I didn’t have many friends. Maybe two in my entire childhood. That’s lonely. I would watch TV and movies about rich kids and see how they would go out, party and enjoy life. I always felt sick seeing that because I knew it wasn’t reality. I can’t even leave the house without having a complete security team with me. My parents were always worried about being kidnapped, tortured, etc. and I know the same fear rubbed off on me. I wanted to go to a mall alone or go to a sporting event and be in the crowd like everyone else, but my parents wouldn’t let me. I didn’t even realize that my bodyguards weren’t really my “uncles” until I was about nine years old! I mean, how can you have six or seven interchangeable uncles??

Don’t even get me started on the pressure to succeed. Granted, I’m an adult now and I’m making my own money, but it seems like it will never be enough. Because we are an old money family, I grew up hearing, “Your grandfather/grandmother accomplished all this! He/she was such a great person…” and so on. Truthfully, I never met my grandparents. I wish I could’ve, but I didn’t.

Actually, I think I met them when I was a baby, but I don’t remember. There’s always a nagging feeling that anything I accomplish in life will just be written off to my family and my last name, not ME. My parents raised me with extremely high expectations. I’m thinking that I turned out okay, but I would cry almost every week because of the pressure. They would tell me nearly every day how important it was to uphold our status and not ruin the family’s reputation. I hated that. I wanted nothing more than my own independence. Today, I constantly downplay my family’s involvement because I want my personal accomplishments to shine.

There’s also a lot of pressure to be involved with charities and other organizations. I don’t know how these charities keep getting my addresses and phone numbers. I wish they would stop calling. I know my parents give millions upon millions to charity every year. When I was watching them growing up, it almost seemed like more work giving away the money than earning it in the first place. My father was always being wined and dined by schools and organizations, while my mother attended every charity event under the sun.

I hope you realize that every family is different and that this is just my story. I don’t really regret having the life I’ve had, but these are just some of the difficulties. Pressure. Paranoia. Looking back, I’m surprised I’m not some spoiled brat with no ambition. While I got a wonderful education and a lot of advantages not available to other people, I wasn’t ever disciplined or taught a solid set of values. Money was the ruler in our household, and my parents used it like a carrot. They would buy me stuff just to get me to adhere to their standards.

I’ve gotten to meet some of the coolest people in the world, and a lot of celebrities. Unfortunately, I never really recognized the celebs or got “star-struck” because I barely watched TV or enjoyed any pop culture. That’s from being sheltered. However, I’ve gotten some great advice and wisdom from the smartest people on earth. That’s a huge plus.
I’m not married yet. You think it would be easy to find someone as some billionaire offspring, but it’s not. Far from it. Ironically, I try my hardest to hide my wealth (actually, not even my wealth, my parents’ wealth) to ensure that whoever I find will love me for me and me alone. The paranoia really creeps in. I’ve even got a few Hondas and Toyotas to take out on dates (the truth is, I love my Mercedes) to appear as normal as possible. I know a lot of really rich people I can date, but they all seem dim and dull, living an aimless life reveling in their millions. I actually want to make something of myself, not just get together and create another member of the lucky sperm club. To be honest, I don’t even care about my future spouse’s money. I won’t say that my childhood created a revulsion to wealth, but I won’t not date someone just because he/she is poor.

Charles Dickens said that “A crust well-earned is sweeter than a fest inherited”. I definitely feel the truth behind that statement. I’m nowhere near a billionaire in my own right, but I’m enjoying my own earned crust.

0 Comments

9 Simple Ways To Save Money This Thanksgiving

11/15/2015

0 Comments

Turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Are you in the holiday spirit yet? Thanksgiving means that friends and family alike will visit to chow down on a feast fit for the entire Mayflower. Throw in pies, cakes and casseroles and you get an expensive holiday.

To help you entertain your guests and still have a happy Thanksgiving, here is a list of ways to save money on this holiday.

1. Have a potluck. You don’t have to do all the cooking yourself; make the lazy bums do some of the work! Just ask your guests to pitch in by bringing a meal to share. To avoid having several people bring the same dish, create a master menu and have guests choose from that menu. You could focus on the main dish, the turkey, and have others bring side dishes and desserts. This is a great way to offset some of your costs.

2. Check your pantry first. I know a few people who went Thanksgiving shopping and loaded up on food, only to figure out that they had the same exact stuff sitting in their pantry. Do you have any Thanksgiving-type ingredients hiding in your pantry? These can include canned goods, breadcrumbs, and other items.

3. Buy nonperishable items in bulk. If you have items that you will use throughout the year, take this time to buy them in bulk. Head over to your local warehouse club to buy items such as sugar, canned goods, flour and candy. These are things that you can keep in your pantry for a few months anyway.

4. Bake the desserts yourself. No prefab stuff this Thanksgiving! Take the flour and sugar that you get in bulk and make your own desserts. If you buy them pre-made, you will pay a premium at the store. It should cost you about fifty cents to prepare yellow cake mix, whereas you would pay about three times that much at a grocery store. Also, try to have all of your pies go in the oven at the same time to save on your energy bill.

5. Serve boxed wine. Boxed wine is much cheaper than bottle wine. On average, one box will be the equivalent of four bottles. If your guests give you any flack, tell them that it’s better for the environment, since many places won’t recycle green glass. If your guests are too uppity for boxed wine, go ahead and put it in an old bottle. Numerous taste tests have shown that people can’t tell the difference anyway.

6. Make double batches. Try to cook as much food as you can and leave what you don’t eat for leftovers. You can freeze some and have it for later.

7. Check store promotions. During the Thanksgiving season, stores typically have promotions that will give you a free turkey after spending a predetermined amount of money during a certain timeframe, say, $300 in three weeks. Figure out if your local stores have anything of this sort, and see if it would be worth it for you to reach the spending threshold. You might be able to do it easily.

8. Wait until Saturday. It might be better for you to have your Thanksgiving meal on Saturday anyway. By doing this, you can catch all the day-after bargains. Here’s another plus – people might have a “big” dinner on Thursday, leaving you with less pressure to prepare a huge feast.

9. Skip the meal altogether and volunteer. Why not lend a helping hand? Charities, meal delivery services, and soup kitchens urgently need volunteers on Thanksgiving. You be able to skip the buying, cooking, and cleaning to be reminded how blessed you really are. Plus, since Thanksgiving is about spending time with friends and family, see if you can get them to volunteer with you.

0 Comments

5 Must-Read Finance and Investing Books For College Students

11/7/2015

0 Comments

You went from living with your parents to living in a dorm room and being on your own. Pretty soon (if you aren’t already) you will be completely responsible for paying bills and making ends meet. That’s why it’s important for you to know how to manage money properly. Unfortunately, this stuff isn’t taught in a college classroom.

Here are the top five personal finance, money and investing books for college students and recent college graduates. These books will provide you with practical advice about living in and coping with the “real world”.

1. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

There’s a reason why this book is a classic best-seller, and it’s because it’s a mighty fine read. Kiyosaki explains how his poor dad might have been highly educated and had a good career, but he slaved away for money. His other dad barely had an education, but he made money work for him.

Kyosaki focuses on investments that will give you cash flow, i.e. making your money work for you. He explains how America’s educational system is designed to keep people working hard for their entire life and how it’s difficult to create wealth in this situation. Your college degree might be important, but it’s critical that you understand the concepts in this book.

2. Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam

This book is one of my favorites, and one that I recommend to everyone who is starting with no knowledge (or nearly no knowledge). It teaches you the basics – stuff that anyone can easily apply and get results. Plus, the author was a real teacher (a notoriously underpaid career) who became a millionaire from his investments. That alone should get you to read the book!

If you decide to pick this one up, you’ll see that it’s easy to read and written for a beginner. It doesn’t have a lot of fluff like many other books out there, and it just focuses on the things that are important. Definitely put this one on your to-read list.

3. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

If you’re like the average college student or college graduate, you’re probably leaving your alma mater with some serious student loan debt. You’re in luck – Dave Ramsey is the king of getting rid of debt. While he’s written several books, this is THE one you need to read. It’s sold over 5 million copies and is a collection of seven simple steps that will help you get and stay out of debt.

However, this isn’t just a debt book. Ramsey also gives valuable advice about increasing your income, changing your attitude about money and saving for the future. The steps are easy to follow and once you’ve read the book, you’ll have no excuse for carrying around that ball-and-chain known as student loan debt.

I DO want to give you a word of caution: Dave Ramsey advocates paying off the smallest debt first, no matter the interest rate. He claims that this will have a psychological/motivational effect on you and cause you to continue with your mission. I strongly advise you to weigh if this will be beneficial to you, because mathematically it doesn’t make much sense. Mathematically, you should pay off your highest interest-bearing debt first.

4. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

Hopefully you plan on starting your career after college. Once you get that nice fat salary, you can begin contributing to a 401(k) or some other investment plan. David Bach will help you streamline the entire process. I love this book because it makes investing as easy as possible. Completely painless!

The whole premise of this book is “pay yourself first”, which is a concept you’re going to have to learn if you want to have a shot at retiring rich. The book is really specific and to the point, which is good if you’re just looking for what to do and how to do it. He also explains why it is so important to use automated payroll deductions. You won’t even miss the money!

By the way, this isn’t even my favorite David Bach book. My favorite is, “Smart Couples Finish Rich”, so if you find that special someone, make sure you read it too.

5. The Money Book For The Young, Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman

Chances are you’re all three! Young, fabulous AND broke! In this book, Suze Orman covers a wide variety of topics, from student loans, insurance, and credit card debt, all specifically geared towards young people. This is great, because most personal finance and investing books tend to be written for someone in their 40s and 50s, so college students and college graduates don’t even receive the book in the first place.

This book is a whopping 400 pages and it will help you navigate a complicated financial world and give you a grasp on the topics you need to know to take charge of your money. It’s geared towards those in their 20s and 30s, so you get the stuff that you need!

0 Comments

Should You Retire With An Annuity? Pros and Cons.

11/6/2015

0 Comments

Annuities are very often touted as a way to easily invest and provide a steady stream of cash flow for the duration of your retirement. Providing a steady income, this financial product can be presented as an attractive investment for many retirees. With an aging population and the length of people’s retirement always growing, figuring out your retirement plan is unquestionably important.

First, it’s important to understand what exactly happens when you purchase an annuity. In general, an annuity is a contract sold by an insurance company that will pay you periodic payments at some point in the future.

The word annuity has many definitions and there are multiple varieties of annuities in the marketplace. The most common types of annuities are: immediate annuities, fixed annuities and indexed annuities.

Immediate annuities are a financial product in which the buyer pays a lump sum and then receives a stream of income from the insurance company. The mechanics behind this are that the insurance company uses the lump sum payment to invest and generate long terms returns that both support your cash stream and turn a profit for them.

A fixed annuity is a contract that once purchased by the buyer commits the insurance company to making fixed dollar payments for the term of the contract, typically until the buyer dies. When you buy a fixed annuity, you’re betting that you will live longer than the average person who also buys a fixed annuity. Obviously, the insurance company and their actuarial charts believe otherwise.

A variable annuity involves a stock portfolio. The insurance company will guarantee a minimum payment, but the rest of your income depends on the portfolio’s performance.

Now that we’ve reviewed the nature and types of annuities, let me explain the ideas behind them before we jump into the pros and cons of annuities for retirement. The theoretical idea behind the annuities is a very simple financial concept called the Time Value of Money. Basically, a dollar today is worth more than a dollar at some date in the future, because with a dollar today, you can invest it. Simply, if you have $1 today and someone asks for your dollar and says they will return $1 to you tomorrow, you are losing money. If you had kept your dollar today and invested in, you could have $1.10 tomorrow. What makes annuities, so attractive for insurance companies is that they get the $1.10!

Annuity Pros

Annuities, like all investment vehicles, have their downsides, but there are certain characteristics of annuities that simply cannot be replicated by anything else in the marketplace.

If you won’t be retiring with a stream of income, such as a pension, annuities offer that potential.
The interest earned in annuities are deferred until you take distributions.
Most annuities will give you some level of principal protection, where it is guaranteed by the insurance company.
You can lock in interest rates. This is good when interest rates are high, but not so much now. When interest rates rise from unusually low rates to high, then it is a wise time to consider a fixed annuity.

Annuity Cons

Unfortunately, many face the significant cons that are associated with annuities.

Interest rates are used to calculate the immediate annuity payments, so if someone were to commit money to an immediate annuity payment, low interest rates could expose them to inflation risk. By not protecting from inflation, you could lose significant purchasing power when rates do increase.
The tax deferral of annuities is definitely a benefit, but all of your gains will eventually be taxed at your ordinary income rate.
Illiquidity. You are required to be 59 1/2 years of age in order to withdraw gains from some annuities and can be subject to a percent early withdrawal penalty. Other than that, the only way to get your money is by receiving periodic payments.
No growth potential. Once you’re locked in to receive payments, that’s it. You are essentially transferring risk to the insurance company, which is why an annuity should only be considered as a pension type payment.
If you choose a variable annuity, the investment options are severely limited and frequently have high expense ratios.

Overall, annuities are a comforting idea for retirement but have many negative attributes that detract from their appeal for retirees. If you choose to purchase annuity for retirement, it is hugely important that you find one with the option to put away more on an annual basis. It is likely best to find a low commission product, and no surrender charges.

There is probably a less expensive way to achieve the same outcome with another investment vehicle. As always, discuss your individual situation with an investment advisor who knows your circumstances.

0 Comments

How To Really Cut Your Grocery Bill Without Coupons (9 Ways)

11/6/2015

0 Comments

If you’re like most people, you like saving money. Furthermore, if you’re like most people, you don’t have time to sit around and clip coupons all day. This isn’t “Extreme Couponing”. (Who wants 400 bags of cat litter anyway… people on that show don’t even have a cat!)

There’s good news – there are ways to spend less money on your grocery bill without getting carpal tunnel from coupon clipping. And yes, you can still eat healthy, nutritious meals.
Coupons come in handy if you already purchase the product, but you won’t save money buying stuff you won’t even use or in such large quantities that you’ll have to throw it out anyway.

Here are some of the ways to save money on your groceries… WITHOUT clipping coupons.

Buy what’s in season. If it’s November, don’t plan a dish that requires fresh pineapple, because it will be more expensive. Find out what is in season and plan your meals around these items. In the summer, this means lots of watermelon and other fresh fruits.

Find out when items go on sale. This will save you a huge amount of money. Almost everything goes on sale from time to time. The key is to find out WHEN these items go on sale, and buy just enough until the next sale.

Buy store brand products. If you don’t buy store brand stuff, you are simply being persuaded by the power of advertising. You’re just another puppet for a marketing company. Most of these products come from the same manufacturer anyway. Canned veggies, paper products, water and pain reliever medicine are typically the same exact thing as the name brands. However, you’ll have to look a little harder to find the off brands. Name brands are placed at eye level, while generic products are placed on the top/bottom shelves. At least try the store brand products. If you don’t like them, you can always switch back.

Don’t buy convenience packaging. If you’re buying cereal, chips or even toothpaste, opt for the biggest size you can get. But make sure that you….

Check the “unit price”. Most stores will display the unit price for you. If 16 ounces of shampoo is $5, you would think that 32 ounces would be $10. If you can buy 32 ounces for less than $10 total, go ahead and buy the bigger size, provided you will use it all. Beware – not all larger sizes are a better deal. Always compare the unit price and use the calculator on your phone if it isn’t displayed.

Do your own ‘kitchen chores”. You shouldn’t be buying vegetables that are already washed, cut and packaged. Just buy them in their natural form and do that stuff at home. You’ll save a few dollars. For example, premade salads will cost you $4 or so, when you could literally make it yourself for less than half the cost. The same with ready-made sandwiches; just buy the bread, cheese and meat on your own. I can get a pound of turkey for the price of one sandwich.

Check around the holidays. Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day are great times to buy deeply discounted hot dogs, chicken, soda and chips. Steaks are also cheap around Valentine’s Day, since couples will prepare a romantic dinner at home. Thanksgiving brings sales on canned goods and frozen pies.

Ask for a discount if an item is near the “sell by”. I know that Wal-Mart discounts meat and baked goods to get it off the shelf faster. I actually cook steak on my shopping days because I get it when it’s super cheap and then cook it that night. If you buy meat from the deli, just ask if the store has meat about to expire. Just be sure that you will eat it within a few days!

Think strategically. You are more than likely paying for the convenience of one-stop shopping. For example, you can find batteries, rice and laundry detergent cheaper at a warehouse club. Dollar stores almost always have better deals on personal care products. If you have a loyalty card, weigh its benefits and consider that in your shopping strategy. If you have a loyalty card to a drugstore, it might be smart to take advantage of it when they discount certain products. If you shop at Wal-Mart, you can take advantage of competitors’ sales through the Savings Catcher app.

Do you know any other ways to save money without using coupons? Please share them in the comments below or tweet them to me @pf_genius!

0 Comments

10 Best Home Improvements to Increase Home Value

11/5/2015

0 Comments

There are bad, good, and the best home improvements. The best home improvements increase the value of your home. Most home improvements are labors of love, done with little hope to add value. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are some home improvements that are proven to add value, which could lead to greater profits if you plan on selling. By completing these improvements, you are putting money in your own pocket. Not a bad deal!

Note: This post was inspired by Vicki Lankarge and her book about increasing the value of your home. If you're on a budget and want to increase the value of your home, give it a read!

Clean everything. Just get your place clean! Get rid of any junk or debris that has accumulated over the years. If a buyer comes to look at your home and sees years of junk sitting around, there’s a good chance they’ll keep on driving. In real estate, perception makes a huge difference, and you want your home to remain as clean as possible. If you don’t have the time, just outsource it to a cleaning company. It’s well worth the price.

Clean your roof too. More often than not, people make the mistake of replacing their roof too early. If your roof has asphalt shingles, they can be cleaned and made to look like new again. Most shingles have a 20-year life, but they start to look old after 5 years. If the shingles on your roof aren’t more than 10 years old, chances are that they don’t need to be replaced. You should opt to have your roof professionally cleaned, especially when replacing it will cost ten times as much.

Paint the place. This is something that you can do yourself if you want to save even more money. Just make sure that the colors you choose are consistent with those in your neighborhood. For your interior, you should use satin paint because it will give enough shine without being too shiny. In your dining room, colors such as deep wine or burgundy can create an elegant or more dramatic look.

Take care of your floors. “Paint and carpet” is the go-to weapon of choice for improving a home’s value, but there’s more involved with flooring than just carpet. When you do put new carpet in, you should stick with short carpets in neutral earth tones. In other areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom, you might want to consider vinyl, ceramic tile, or hardwood. Vinyl (or linoleum) will last 10-15 years, but if a heavy or sharp object is dropped on it, it can cause a tear. Linoleum tears are very difficult to replace because the seams and patterns have to match exactly for it to look right. Ceramic tile is more expense than vinyl but can easily last 20-30 years. If you decide to use hardwood, oak is usually cheaper than cherry or mahogany woods.

Improve your foyer. The foyer is the first thing when guest and prospective buyers see when entering your home. That’s why it’s important to set the tone for the rest of the house. Colorful decorative pieces do well, and throw rugs placed at the door give guests a place to wipe their feet. Another way to add color is to hang decorative art or family photos on the wall. If you want to breathe life into the room, place a plant in the corner by the doorway.

Take care of your lawn. Here’s a tip: use sod instead of seed. A seeded lawn typically gives thinner looking grass and is more susceptible to weed growth. Take some time to keep your lawn fertilizer and watered, as well as mowed and edged. Also, keep an eye out for any lawn diseases, and be sure to take care of them immediately. Curb appeal is a big deal, and it can go a long way towards increasing the value of your home.

Is your lawn getting the attention and care it deserves?

Replace your appliances. Replacing your kitchen appliances is one of the least expensive (and easiest) home improvements you can make. You can get a nice dishwasher with everything you need for about $400 – there’s no need to get super fancy with this. You should also replace your refrigerator, since it is the most noticeable, and almost always draws the most attention in the kitchen.

Upgrade your pantry. One of the “must have” features of homebuyers today is a walk-in pantry. If you don’t have one, you can build one by enclosing a corner or section of your kitchen, with shelving from top to bottom. It’s critical that you make this space as bright as possible – who wants a dark pantry? Make sure that you equip the area with one, if not two, powerful light bulbs. Brightness can also make the area look larger to potential buyers.

Get better faucets. Get the nicer, more expensive faucets that compliment your home. Don’t be cheap here. Enough said.

Improve your lighting. Cheap lighting makes the entire house look cheap. Make sure that your house is getting the lighting it deserves. Many dining rooms have chandeliers, but here’s something to take your home to the next level: wall sconces. These are fixtures designed to mount on the wall, and they can usually be purchased as a set with a chandelier. Also, most kitchens don’t have lighting under their cabinets, so make sure your house does! When you put lights under the cabinets, make sure you route them to one switch, allowing you to turn the lights on from a central location. Nothing will cause a headache quite like trying to figure out which light and switch go together.

By putting these improvements in place, you should see a strong impact on your home. In addition to having a better home, you’re likely to get your initial investment back, and then some.

0 Comments