Rattler12 said:

---

Muy said:

---

Rattler12 said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Boomers really were the most irresponsible generation.

---

One of the biggest mistakes some of the boomers made was having children

---

Wasn't that the entire premise of the WWII generation was to grow the population? I don't think they expected people to live this long in such masses, or that America would stop producing.

---

That comment was directive in nature.towards the "boomer bashers".....

but I will say this.....a larger problem for the boomer children and their children is the past and current trend amongst the 2 groups to have less children and at a later age. A couple waiting to have children until they're in their mid 30's and then having only one will have effectively eliminated an entire generation and as us "old's" die off in numbers there will be no replacements. This phenomena appears to be happening more frequently in a particular race and if continued said race will eventually become extinct.

---

fewer

Ag with kids said:

---

Rattler12 said:

---

Muy said:

---

Rattler12 said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Boomers really were the most irresponsible generation.

---

One of the biggest mistakes some of the boomers made was having children

---

Wasn't that the entire premise of the WWII generation was to grow the population? I don't think they expected people to live this long in such masses, or that America would stop producing.

---

That comment was directive in nature.towards the "boomer bashers".....

but I will say this.....a larger problem for the boomer children and their children is the past and current trend amongst the 2 groups to have less children and at a later age. A couple waiting to have children until they're in their mid 30's and then having only one will have effectively eliminated an entire generation and as us "old's" die off in numbers there will be no replacements. This phenomena appears to be happening more frequently in a particular race and if continued said race will eventually become extinct.

---

fewer

---

.....yes....fewer ......although 1 is less than 3

This retirement sucks
The roommate keeps asking me for my food and she talks to imaginary people on her walls.

Plus, women with weaves and tattoos keep fighting in the hallway over ramen, kraft instant Mac and cheese, and MTN dew.

Tanya 93 said:

---

This retirement sucks
The roommate keeps asking me for my food and she talks to imaginary people on her walls.

Plus, women with weaves and tattoos keep fighting in the hallway over ramen, kraft instant Mac and cheese, and MTN dew.

---

where are you?

Sounds like prison.

infinity ag said:

---

Tanya 93 said:

---

This retirement sucks
The roommate keeps asking me for my food and she talks to imaginary people on her walls.

Plus, women with weaves and tattoos keep fighting in the hallway over ramen, kraft instant Mac and cheese, and MTN dew.

---

where are you?

---

A nursing facility in Missouri

Tom Fox said:

---

Sounds like prison.

---

Prison would be kinder

Rattler12 said:

---

Muy said:

---

Rattler12 said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Boomers really were the most irresponsible generation.

---

One of the biggest mistakes some of the boomers made was having children

---

Wasn't that the entire premise of the WWII generation was to grow the population? I don't think they expected people to live this long in such masses, or that America would stop producing.

---

That comment was directive in nature.towards the "boomer bashers".....

but I will say this.....a larger problem for the boomer children and their children is the past and current trend amongst the 2 groups to have less children and at a later age. A couple waiting to have children until they're in their mid 30's and then having only one will have effectively eliminated an entire generation and as us "old's" die off in numbers there will be no replacements. This phenomena appears to be happening more frequently in a particular race and if continued said race will eventually become extinct. I believe China has figured that out and is paying the consequences of years of the one child only rule That was finally eliminated'

---

This just confirms it to me that the economy is no more than a ponzi scheme.

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

If America's Golden Age doesn't come in the next year, we are in a heap of trouble.

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

You worked at LTV, too?

I was there 1988-1996. Missiles side.

Aircraft - until 2002.

What is the point of blaming boomers for our current financial situation? We are where we are and it needs to be addressed aggressively. You can't change the past. Solutions are needed , not assigning what generation is responsible for it. Learning and correcting from mistakes made … fine. Blindly and overgenerally blaming a generation? Useless. What is the solution? My opinion , cut federal spending to the bone and limiting it to what federal powers are granted by the Constitution is the first step.

Kill all boomers and eliminating CEO's seems to be what some people here suggest to solve the fed financial issues . Perhaps this would help on the SS and Medicare side financially. Totally realistic… right ? Gimme a break

halfastros81 said:

---

What is the point of blaming boomers for our current financial situation? We are where we are and it needs to be addressed aggressively. You can't change the past. Solutions are needed , not assigning what generation is responsible for it. Learning and correcting from mistakes made … fine. Blindly and overgenerally blaming a generation? Useless. What is the solution? My opinion , cut federal spending to the bone and limiting it to what federal powers are granted by the Constitution is the first step.

---

Agree.
We need to cut spending massively. I wish Trump had done it. Stop wasting money. Both parties need to work together on a plan else we are all screwed.

Just so you know if you didn't do the math, I'm a late boomer. Why do you continuously bag on boomers . What good does it do?

Both parties are not going to work together . current Dems are essentially commies. We need to root their asses out of power … period. I understand a lot of Republicans are no better . We need Conservatice Constitutionalist s. The R 's need to be forced right . There is no chance the that D's will become constitutionalists. Zero …. Nada.

We need true conservatives/constitutionalists to unite and conquer. Why try to divide by generation ? That's a classic leftist tactic . Completely counterproductive. It's what an Obama wants.

halfastros81 said:

---

Just so you know if you didn't do the math, I'm a late boomer. Why do you continuously bag on boomers . What good does it do?

Both parties are not going to work together . current Dems are essentially commies. We need to root their asses out of power … period. I understand a lot of Republicans are no better . We need Conservatice Constitutionalist s. The R 's need to be forced right . There is no chance the that D's will become constitutionalists. Zero …. Nada.

We need true conservatives/constitutionalists to unite and conquer. Why try to divide by generation ? That's a classic leftist tactic . Completely counterproductive. It's what an Obama wants.

---

agreed!

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

Vepp said:

---

Defund Social Security now and let's have a future!

---

I don't disagree but I'll need my contributions back, with interest.

That video is 6 years old. When are we doing this little recession crisis thing?

Ah a good fear porn thread. Daily therapy

Not sure if discussed but the median retirement balance for 65-74 is $200k.

It's $130k for people over 75.

So, yes, Americans being underfunded is a major problem. And those numbers are the highest I've seen. Other sources have it lower.

Now roll in almost the complete inability to cover long-term healthcare and you have a crisis on your hands.

My age group (45-54) has a measly $115k median balance.

These numbers are laughable, sadly.

yell_on_6th st said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

---

This is what will happen to everyone. Today, society is built around corporations. This isn't 1850 when everyone was self sufficient and that is how life was. Today we are inter-dependent. Now if we allow corporations to do whatever the hell they want like send all jobs overseas or bring in unlimited foreigner workers, that has a big impact on the standard of life in the US. We are such fools in this country. We cling on to old ways even when they show that they don't work anymore. Like Muslims cling to Islam.

Scummy politicians will not fix this. So you have to take care of yourself so you don't spend your senior years on the streets. Here is what to do. Begin investing in index funds. That is the only way to have a comfortable retirement without doing a whole lot. Corporations have ruined the job market with their frequent layoffs which never happened 50 years ago. You had to be in a real downturn for a company to layoff. My father once told me 1974 was one such year where he had to lay off many people.

Corporations now shamelessly work only to increase the stock price and to give the C level big bonuses. The employees and society get nothing. So think for yourself, either you start your own successful business or you make others work for you and get rich(er) with index funds. The future will be about investing, not your job.

YouBet said:

---

Not sure if discussed but the median retirement balance for 65-74 is $200k.

It's $130k for people over 75.

So, yes, Americans being underfunded is a major problem. And those numbers are the highest I've seen. Other sources have it lower.

Now roll in almost the complete inability to cover long-term healthcare and you have a crisis on your hands.

My age group (45-54) has a measly $115k median balance.

These numbers are laughable, sadly.

---

I cannot imagine getting to retirement with less than $200K and thinking it will be okay. I have 25x+ the median($45k) for my age group(35-44) and still sometimes do not think it will be enough.

With those numbers, if anything catastrophic happens... car goes out, AC blows up, major health incident, etc... you are screwed!

infinity ag said:

---

yell_on_6th st said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

---

This is what will happen to everyone. Today, society is built around corporations. This isn't 1850 when everyone was self sufficient and that is how life was. Today we are inter-dependent. Now if we allow corporations to do whatever the hell they want like send all jobs overseas or bring in unlimited foreigner workers, that has a big impact on the standard of life in the US. We are such fools in this country. We cling on to old ways even when they show that they don't work anymore. Like Muslims cling to Islam.

Here is what to do. Begin investing in index funds. That is the only way to have a comfortable retirement. Corporations have ruined the job market with their frequent layoffs which never happened 50 years ago. You had to be in a real downturn for a company to layoff. My father once told me 1974 was one such year where he had to lay off many people. Corporations now shameless work only to increase the stock price and to give the C level big bonuses. The employees and society get nothing. So think for yourself, either you start your own successful business or you make others work for you and get rich like index funds. The future will be about investing, not your job.

---

You have to MAKE yourself marketable. It's not on the company. Our company is about to have layoffs, and we are close to record profits. Stock price is the ONLY think a company should be worried about.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that. Folks do not DESERVE a job.

And, it's up to the individual to ensure he has enough money to support his/her family. It's not up to the private sector or government to ensure that.

- Early on, you need to pick the correct career. If that requires college, fine. If not, that's fine also.
- Then, it continues thru development of your skills and marketing yourself within the company.
Can't just sit on your ass at your desk.
- Then, it's enhanced by marketing yourself outside your company.
- It also requires the development of good saving/investment skills.
- Also, picking the spouse is extremely important.

I did it. Both of my children are doing it, and they are doing it better than I ever did. It's difficult, no doubt and requires some luck. For us, though, it starts thru faith in Jesus Christ and putting trust in him. And, I'm not talking just lip service to it. Full trust.

What it DOESN'T require is trust in some corporation.

Hoyt Ag said:

---

YouBet said:

---

Not sure if discussed but the median retirement balance for 65-74 is $200k.

It's $130k for people over 75.

So, yes, Americans being underfunded is a major problem. And those numbers are the highest I've seen. Other sources have it lower.

Now roll in almost the complete inability to cover long-term healthcare and you have a crisis on your hands.

My age group (45-54) has a measly $115k median balance.

These numbers are laughable, sadly.

---

I cannot imagine getting to retirement with less than $200K and thinking it will be okay. I have 25x+ the median($45k) for my age group(35-44) and still sometimes do not think it will be enough.

---

$200k?!!

I am nearly at 2 million in savings and still may not be enough!

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

I started investing in 1999.
I remember Datek and ETrade used to charge $19.99 for a trade. Now it is free.
Back then shares were still sold in fractions. Now all in decimals.

My father had to call a broker and place trades. Times have changed with the internet.

Invest people! That is the only way to survive in the future since all high paying jobs will be sent to India or China.

Make the CEO work for YOU. Make him your b@yo!ch!

dermdoc said:

---

yell_on_6th st said:

---

The simple answer is, keep working.

It's better for you anyway

---

Amen. 70 years old and going strong. And I am a responsible boomer. Could retire but don't want to.

---

You'd be bored out of your mind like my Dad.. He just sits around watching Alone and other survival shows for no reason. At least football is coming back around.

I truly believe retirement killed my father.

Science Denier said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

yell_on_6th st said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

---

This is what will happen to everyone. Today, society is built around corporations. This isn't 1850 when everyone was self sufficient and that is how life was. Today we are inter-dependent. Now if we allow corporations to do whatever the hell they want like send all jobs overseas or bring in unlimited foreigner workers, that has a big impact on the standard of life in the US. We are such fools in this country. We cling on to old ways even when they show that they don't work anymore. Like Muslims cling to Islam.

Here is what to do. Begin investing in index funds. That is the only way to have a comfortable retirement. Corporations have ruined the job market with their frequent layoffs which never happened 50 years ago. You had to be in a real downturn for a company to layoff. My father once told me 1974 was one such year where he had to lay off many people. Corporations now shameless work only to increase the stock price and to give the C level big bonuses. The employees and society get nothing. So think for yourself, either you start your own successful business or you make others work for you and get rich like index funds. The future will be about investing, not your job.

---

You have to MAKE yourself marketable. It's not on the company. Our company is about to have layoffs, and we are close to record profits. Stock price is the ONLY think a company should be worried about.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that. Folks do not DESERVE a job.

And, it's up to the individual to ensure he has enough money to support his/her family. It's not up to the private sector or government to ensure that.

- Early on, you need to pick the correct career. If that requires college, fine. If not, that's fine also.
- Then, it continues thru development of your skills and marketing yourself within the company.
Can't just sit on your ass at your desk.
- Then, it's enhanced by marketing yourself outside your company.
- It also requires the development of good saving/investment skills.
- Also, picking the spouse is extremely important.

I did it. Both of my children are doing it, and they are doing it better than I ever did. It's difficult, no doubt and requires some luck. For us, though, it starts thru faith in Jesus Christ and putting trust in him. And, I'm not talking just lip service to it. Full trust.

What it DOESN'T require is trust in some corporation.

---

My friend, please don't gaslight yourself and everyone else. I agree with your general premise about making ourselves marketable, nothing wrong, everything correct about that. But that no longer is a good reliable strategy. There are so few jobs and will get only fewer in the future. All the self-improvement won't help when Kumar does your job at 30% of the cost. You have to move to india or China to work.

So sorry, while your intentions are good, your solution no longer works. However, it is good advice if you want to continue working in a US corp. You have to have another stream of income that does not depend on a single person to mess up. Investing.

You have to invest well in today's world to have a good retirement. Starting a successful money making business is another way but not everyone has the acumen/capability to do that. Besides after 60, you don't want to be working, you should be enjoying the last 20 years of your life.

I have been investing since 1999 and really well with a new strategy since 2014. I have built up a good war chest that I don't need to work if I don't want to. No debt, all paid off. In my best year, I made 16X my best ever annual salary (ignoring taxes etc). Hard honest work no longer pays off in America, you need to play games, politics and do that thing to survive. We are turning into a 3rd world country job market-wise. Indian software companies are like that, total sweat shops.

Logos Stick said:

---

With those numbers, if anything catastrophic happens... car goes out, AC blows up, major health incident, etc... you are screwed!

---

Me screwed or people that didnt save?

infinity ag said:

---

Science Denier said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

yell_on_6th st said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

---

This is what will happen to everyone. Today, society is built around corporations. This isn't 1850 when everyone was self sufficient and that is how life was. Today we are inter-dependent. Now if we allow corporations to do whatever the hell they want like send all jobs overseas or bring in unlimited foreigner workers, that has a big impact on the standard of life in the US. We are such fools in this country. We cling on to old ways even when they show that they don't work anymore. Like Muslims cling to Islam.

Here is what to do. Begin investing in index funds. That is the only way to have a comfortable retirement. Corporations have ruined the job market with their frequent layoffs which never happened 50 years ago. You had to be in a real downturn for a company to layoff. My father once told me 1974 was one such year where he had to lay off many people. Corporations now shameless work only to increase the stock price and to give the C level big bonuses. The employees and society get nothing. So think for yourself, either you start your own successful business or you make others work for you and get rich like index funds. The future will be about investing, not your job.

---

You have to MAKE yourself marketable. It's not on the company. Our company is about to have layoffs, and we are close to record profits. Stock price is the ONLY think a company should be worried about.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that. Folks do not DESERVE a job.

And, it's up to the individual to ensure he has enough money to support his/her family. It's not up to the private sector or government to ensure that.

- Early on, you need to pick the correct career. If that requires college, fine. If not, that's fine also.
- Then, it continues thru development of your skills and marketing yourself within the company.
Can't just sit on your ass at your desk.
- Then, it's enhanced by marketing yourself outside your company.
- It also requires the development of good saving/investment skills.
- Also, picking the spouse is extremely important.

I did it. Both of my children are doing it, and they are doing it better than I ever did. It's difficult, no doubt and requires some luck. For us, though, it starts thru faith in Jesus Christ and putting trust in him. And, I'm not talking just lip service to it. Full trust.

What it DOESN'T require is trust in some corporation.

---

My friend, please don't gaslight yourself and everyone else. I agree with your general premise about making ourselves marketable, nothing wrong, everything correct about that. But that no longer is a good reliable strategy. There are so few jobs and will get only fewer in the future. All the self-improvement won't help when Kumar does your job at 30% of the cost. You have to move to india or China to work.

So sorry, while your intentions are good, your solution no longer works. However, it is good advice if you want to continue working in a US corp. You have to have another stream of income that does not depend on a single person to mess up. Investing.

You have to invest well in today's world to have a good retirement. Starting a successful money making business is another way but not everyone has the acumen/capability to do that. Besides after 60, you don't want to be working, you should be enjoying the last 20 years of your life.

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Works for my kids. I agree investing is very important.

Hoyt Ag said:

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Logos Stick said:

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With those numbers, if anything catastrophic happens... car goes out, AC blows up, major health incident, etc... you are screwed!

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Me screwed or people that didnt save?

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people that did not save....

Science Denier said:

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infinity ag said:

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Science Denier said:

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infinity ag said:

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yell_on_6th st said:

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fc2112 said:

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EclipseAg said:

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fc2112 said:

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I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

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A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

---

This is what will happen to everyone. Today, society is built around corporations. This isn't 1850 when everyone was self sufficient and that is how life was. Today we are inter-dependent. Now if we allow corporations to do whatever the hell they want like send all jobs overseas or bring in unlimited foreigner workers, that has a big impact on the standard of life in the US. We are such fools in this country. We cling on to old ways even when they show that they don't work anymore. Like Muslims cling to Islam.

Here is what to do. Begin investing in index funds. That is the only way to have a comfortable retirement. Corporations have ruined the job market with their frequent layoffs which never happened 50 years ago. You had to be in a real downturn for a company to layoff. My father once told me 1974 was one such year where he had to lay off many people. Corporations now shameless work only to increase the stock price and to give the C level big bonuses. The employees and society get nothing. So think for yourself, either you start your own successful business or you make others work for you and get rich like index funds. The future will be about investing, not your job.

---

You have to MAKE yourself marketable. It's not on the company. Our company is about to have layoffs, and we are close to record profits. Stock price is the ONLY think a company should be worried about.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that. Folks do not DESERVE a job.

And, it's up to the individual to ensure he has enough money to support his/her family. It's not up to the private sector or government to ensure that.

- Early on, you need to pick the correct career. If that requires college, fine. If not, that's fine also.
- Then, it continues thru development of your skills and marketing yourself within the company.
Can't just sit on your ass at your desk.
- Then, it's enhanced by marketing yourself outside your company.
- It also requires the development of good saving/investment skills.
- Also, picking the spouse is extremely important.

I did it. Both of my children are doing it, and they are doing it better than I ever did. It's difficult, no doubt and requires some luck. For us, though, it starts thru faith in Jesus Christ and putting trust in him. And, I'm not talking just lip service to it. Full trust.

What it DOESN'T require is trust in some corporation.

---

My friend, please don't gaslight yourself and everyone else. I agree with your general premise about making ourselves marketable, nothing wrong, everything correct about that. But that no longer is a good reliable strategy. There are so few jobs and will get only fewer in the future. All the self-improvement won't help when Kumar does your job at 30% of the cost. You have to move to india or China to work.

So sorry, while your intentions are good, your solution no longer works. However, it is good advice if you want to continue working in a US corp. You have to have another stream of income that does not depend on a single person to mess up. Investing.

You have to invest well in today's world to have a good retirement. Starting a successful money making business is another way but not everyone has the acumen/capability to do that. Besides after 60, you don't want to be working, you should be enjoying the last 20 years of your life.

---

Works for my kids.

---

I am happy but it won't work for long. That was my point.
You know I am on your side, don't you? Have them continue their jobs and IN ADDITION start investing. That will be a good insurance for possible future shocks. Things are changing rapidly and you want your interest to lie with the rich guy. We rant here but we cannot defeat Mr Moneybags. If he makes $100,000, I want to make $1, that is it. But make that $1 reliably. That is my goal and it has worked well.

I have a son who is stepping into the work force with a Computer Science degree. He is a typical kid who wants to change the world and does not want to hear about investing when I tell him about it. OK. So I invest for him and at some point the light bulb will turn on and he will have a nice cushion.

infinity ag said:

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Science Denier said:

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infinity ag said:

---

Science Denier said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

yell_on_6th st said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

EclipseAg said:

---

fc2112 said:

---

I had been saving, but not as much as I should have since - when I started in 1984 - 401k savings plans were just coming out and Roth IRAs didn't exist. The real juice in your 401k comes from what you were putting in in your 20s and 30s.

---

A lot of young people just assume these investment options have always been available.

They don't realize that back in the day, you needed a broker to purchase stock and most brokers didn't want to have anything to do with you unless you had some wealth. Plus, you paid healthy commissions for the privilege of buying.

You couldn't just log on to Schwab or Fidelity or Robinhood and buy shares. And fractional shares weren't even a thing. In many cases you had to have enough cash for a 100-share lot.

---

My 401k plan starting in 1984 (when I went to work) was all LTV stock. We had no other investment options other than cash. So LTV stock it was.

LTV went bankrupt in 1986 and wiped out my 401k. My $10k of LTV stock was worth $0.01.

As was mentioned above, you had to go though a broker to set up any personal IRA and you had to buy blocks of 100 shares to trade and the fees were hefty. I started investing again in my company 401k plan in the early 90's after grad school, but all that made my 20's worthless.

---

My FIL worked most of his career at Tracor, military industrial outfit in Austin. Similar story except 30s - 60s. His was a pension plan that disappeared. Bitter as hell. Watched him pinch pennies till he died as an invalid 3 years ago.

I don't know what my future holds but I hope it's not that.

---

This is what will happen to everyone. Today, society is built around corporations. This isn't 1850 when everyone was self sufficient and that is how life was. Today we are inter-dependent. Now if we allow corporations to do whatever the hell they want like send all jobs overseas or bring in unlimited foreigner workers, that has a big impact on the standard of life in the US. We are such fools in this country. We cling on to old ways even when they show that they don't work anymore. Like Muslims cling to Islam.

Here is what to do. Begin investing in index funds. That is the only way to have a comfortable retirement. Corporations have ruined the job market with their frequent layoffs which never happened 50 years ago. You had to be in a real downturn for a company to layoff. My father once told me 1974 was one such year where he had to lay off many people. Corporations now shameless work only to increase the stock price and to give the C level big bonuses. The employees and society get nothing. So think for yourself, either you start your own successful business or you make others work for you and get rich like index funds. The future will be about investing, not your job.

---

You have to MAKE yourself marketable. It's not on the company. Our company is about to have layoffs, and we are close to record profits. Stock price is the ONLY think a company should be worried about.

And, there is NOTHING wrong with that. Folks do not DESERVE a job.

And, it's up to the individual to ensure he has enough money to support his/her family. It's not up to the private sector or government to ensure that.

- Early on, you need to pick the correct career. If that requires college, fine. If not, that's fine also.
- Then, it continues thru development of your skills and marketing yourself within the company.
Can't just sit on your ass at your desk.
- Then, it's enhanced by marketing yourself outside your company.
- It also requires the development of good saving/investment skills.
- Also, picking the spouse is extremely important.

I did it. Both of my children are doing it, and they are doing it better than I ever did. It's difficult, no doubt and requires some luck. For us, though, it starts thru faith in Jesus Christ and putting trust in him. And, I'm not talking just lip service to it. Full trust.

What it DOESN'T require is trust in some corporation.

---

My friend, please don't gaslight yourself and everyone else. I agree with your general premise about making ourselves marketable, nothing wrong, everything correct about that. But that no longer is a good reliable strategy. There are so few jobs and will get only fewer in the future. All the self-improvement won't help when Kumar does your job at 30% of the cost. You have to move to india or China to work.

So sorry, while your intentions are good, your solution no longer works. However, it is good advice if you want to continue working in a US corp. You have to have another stream of income that does not depend on a single person to mess up. Investing.

You have to invest well in today's world to have a good retirement. Starting a successful money making business is another way but not everyone has the acumen/capability to do that. Besides after 60, you don't want to be working, you should be enjoying the last 20 years of your life.

---

Works for my kids.

---

I am happy but it won't work for long. That was my point.
You know I am on your side, don't you? Have them continue their jobs and IN ADDITION start investing. That will be a good insurance for possible future shocks. Things are changing rapidly and you want your interest to lie with the rich guy. We rant here but we cannot defeat Mr Moneybags. If he makes $100,000, I want to make $1, that is it. But make that $1 reliably. That is my goal and it has worked well.

---

No doubt. They started investing while in college. My oldest started before he was in college.