Dear Survivor, Back in 1994, Your Survival Guy, a recent Babson College graduate, decided to put his diploma to work, and hopped on a plane to Greece to spend some time with a fraternity brother who summered on one of the Greek Isles. “When else are you going to get an opportunity to do this again?” my dad said. And with that, I coordinated with my high school friend, a recent Duke grad, to meet up in Rome and tour Western Europe for a month or so. “Meet you in Rome,” I said. “I’ll figure out how to get there from Athens,” I said. This was not a quick boat ride to Martha’s Vineyard. … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive May 2023: “I’m Having Major Surgery Tomorrow,” He Said
Dear Survivor, Life comes at you fast. One minute you’re living your retirement life. The next, you need major surgery. “I’m having major surgery tomorrow,” a client said to me yesterday. “Take care of things for me,” he said. “I will,” I said. We’ve been working together for over 20 years. He’s been trusting Richard C. Young for many more. He’s financially fit because he invested in himself at an early age and was smart with his savings. He realized a long time ago that saving money and investing are two different things. He needed help with the second one. I know his family because … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive April 2023: Will the Black Swan Usher in Digital Dollars?
Dear Survivor, What’s most disturbing about a black swan event is how it affects the rest of us. What will this non-bailout, bailout of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature usher in? Will we have a new way of banking where the Fed gets to call the shots? Will digital dollars be their way to control us? Because it’s times like these when those in power usher in change in the name of following “the science.” Will this give them the extra inch they need to tell us that currency digitization is for our “protection?” One thing’s for sure, we’re not going back to the way life was. Sitting in … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive March 2023: How Long Have You Been in the Investment Business?
Dear Survivor, “How long have you been in the investment business?” he asked. “Most of my adult life,” I said. “Did you know when you were my age (18) what you wanted to do?” “Not really. I went to business school at Babson College, worked at Fidelity Investments, and I’ve been here for 25 years.” “That’s cool,” he said. “My grandpa and grandma tell me all about you guys.” ………… Here’s the longer version. Growing up, we always talked about business at home. But it wasn’t about money. My dad would talk about interactions with customers he’d had that day, and because this … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive February 2023: 4 Life Changing Words: “You Should Try This”
Dear Survivor, Life throws you a curveball when you least expect it. Which is where I found myself recently when I came home from work. “I’m doing a liver cleanse,” she said. “You can join me or fend for yourself.” Bam! No warning. No time to grab a snack at the office before heading home for dinner. Just trapped like a rat. Cornered. What was I going to say, “No, you do it alone. Take care of yourself. I’ll be fine.” No. I like sleeping in my bed. We’re in week two. I’ve strayed here and there. Don’t tell anyone. One of the problems with the internet is you have all sorts of … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive January 2023: Stacking Wood and Compounding Money
Dear Survivor, With Your Survival Guy’s kids home for the weekend, it was the perfect opportunity to stack another cord of wood. Living in New England, you never know when the next natural gas outage will come. I don’t like the chances it will be smooth sailing, and the thought of being without a source of heat while it’s snowing outside (got a dusting of snow last night) isn’t my idea of fun. “Mornin’,” I said to my son. “I got a cord of wood delivered. Do you want to help stack it after breakfast?” If you recall, after a summer of work a couple years ago, I helped him set up a Roth … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive December 2022: Your Survival Guy Prefers Bombardier’s Global Express 7500
Dear Survivor, If you’re going to Paris, you’ll need a heavy jet. Your Survival Guy prefers Bombardier’s Global Express 7500. With only a handful to choose from, you’ll be in rarified air, literally—because when you’re cruising at altitude tens of thousands of feet up, the advanced air pressurization system makes it feel like you’re only at 4,000. Great for extra-long trips (and even not-so-long ones). Remember, it’s the small things in life that matter most. You’ll want to hit the ground running, not bogged down with a head cold. Then there are the 15-windows (per side), soft leather … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive November 2022: Arriving in Style at Le Bristol Hotel, Paris
Dear Survivor, OK, so you want to go to Paris? Your Survival Guy is back from another three-week research trip, the second this year, and I have plenty to report. For one, Paris is open for business, big time, as travelers from around the world, (sans China) are moving about the country. As for Paris itself, especially in the service/tourism industry, it’s at maximum capacity based on the sheer demand post-Covid and lack of labor supply. There’s still a hangover from lockdowns and the reluctance of workers—still living off government payouts—to get back to work. Sound familiar? Now, … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive October 2022: Sink Your Teeth into These Bond Yields
Dear Survivor, “Red sky in morn, sailors take warn,” goes the saying. On this morning, the sun was as red as a lollipop, the kind that turns your tongue so red you want to show it to whoever’s next to you. Your Survival Guy heard it’s the dust, spun up from the wind, reflecting off the sun. Scientific American says it’s from the Bible (Matthew 16:2-3), attributed to a quote from Jesus. "When it is evening, ye say, fair weather: for the heaven is red. And in the morning, foul weather today for the heaven is red and lowering." Your Survival Guy’s 4 Ways to YOUR Wealth NOAA, not Noah … [Read more...]
Survive and Thrive September 2022: Do You Have the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
Dear Survivor, You know the saying, “If it’s too good to be true…” It’s almost not worth finishing because fortunes are made and lost even though everyone knows the phrase. They think they see something “different” than the other guy, or that it’s a “can’t miss” opportunity—until it isn’t—like some cryptocurrency bankruptcy. I know fortunes are made and lost like clockwork. It’s why I want you to harness the power of time in your life. Here’s Why You Deserve a Vacation from Your To Do List How do you do that? Well, you can start with good habits. Habits that you can grow with and … [Read more...]
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