[Young Spark]

^^ I figured it would be a productive topic and therefore I am quite glad I did... hope it continues on for weeks and months to come and helps some people learn from the basis.

MY #1 investment tip -- figure out the time-value of money, and start using it. We're all young here, a $10k investment now can make some of us set for our retirement.

Too late... I already learned it. The truth as it goes is that the time value of money simply means "money today is worth more then money in the future." Or atleast thats how I perceived it. Example: If I had $100 in my right hand and $1000 in my left... which would you choose? Simply the $1000 ... now lets say I had $100 in my right hand and $1000 in my left but you had to work 5 years for the $1000 --- a majority of you are saying you'd take the $100

That's all the time value of money is. Money today is worth more then money in the future.

[TheCDAllenGroup]

Oh goodness...

A former friend of mine just got a BMW that "Daddy" bought for him. I guess he thinks he's successful now...

Or maybe I'm just jealous.

[jasaunders]

Dustin said "time value of money simply means 'money today is worth more then money in the future.'"

In general times I would agree, but thinking about it more, I would say that there are some stupid people out there. And to these stupid people, money might not be worth more tomorrow then it is today. People that aren't intelligent enough to make wise investment decisions and won't make a return on their money today, won't have more money tomorrow.

.. Just something I was thinking about. The time value of money only applies to people that aren't financially stupid.

[roadtoharvard]

Originally Posted by jasaunders

Dustin said "time value of money simply means 'money today is worth more then money in the future.'"

In general times I would agree, but thinking about it more, I would say that there are some stupid people out there. And to these stupid people, money might not be worth more tomorrow then it is today. People that aren't intelligent enough to make wise investment decisions and won't make a return on their money today, won't have more money tomorrow.

.. Just something I was thinking about. The time value of money only applies to people that aren't financially stupid.

Time value of money applies to everyone due to inflation.

[roadtoharvard]

As for the rest of the thread I'm thoroughly disappointed. The majority of what was written is simply a compilation of financial platitudes regurgitated by investment gurus. The majority of these guru's would have never gotten rich save them writing books on "how to get rich".

My theoretical advice would be to educate yourself about business through a traditional venue (school), continually expose yourself to different investment philosophies and learn to critically evaluate them.

More practically I would say to simply invest your money through index funds(with low MER's) in stocks and bonds.

[jasaunders]

Originally Posted by roadtoharvard

Time value of money applies to everyone due to inflation.

If you sit on your money, then the value decreases due to inflation, it does not increase. Therefore, the time value of money, that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, does not apply for inflation. In fact the Time value of money, as written in financial accounting books, makes specific references to ignore inflation (as do most things in financial accounting) because inflation is not gauranteed, there can be and have been periods of deflation.

[TheCDAllenGroup]

Originally Posted by roadtoharvard

As for the rest of the thread I'm thoroughly disappointed. The majority of what was written is simply a compilation of financial platitudes regurgitated by investment gurus. The majority of these guru's would have never gotten rich save them writing books on "how to get rich".

And I've read that pathetic blog of yours which is composed of nothing but useless, Industrial Age ideas. I commented in that thread of yours but you never responded. I guess you didn't have an answer because you COULDN'T answer.

I can honestly say that from your blog alone, you are one of those degree-touting idiots who think their academic education can mask their financial ignorance. NOT so.

My theoretical advice would be to educate yourself about business through a traditional venue (school)

So where is the financial literacy going to come from? Schools [for the overwhelmingly most part] do NOT teach financial education. The result is that we have many college-educated [mostly arrogant, pompous jerks who wear their degrees on their sleeves thinking they own the world] who are filing bankruptcy two (2) to three (3) years after graduating. If that school properly taught them financial education, why are they drowning in so much consumer debt with leased cars, designer clothes, bar tabs, and fancy vacations?

continually expose yourself to different investment philosophies and learn to critically evaluate them

This self-concocted statement is laughable at best. Evaluation of investment philosophies does NOT equate cashflow management or compensate for financial literacy, you blithering idiot.

More practically I would say to simply invest your money through index funds(with low MER's) in stocks and bonds.

So resort to mostly passive investing, eh? Sorry, not for me.

This statement comes from someone who knows next to nothing about investing or the diversity of investments that are available.

[roadtoharvard]

Perhaps I did not explain myself properly. I meant to say that the people that are financially stupid are effected by inflation regardless of what they do with their money. That is why they should invest it to maintain current levels of purchasing power.

That being said, I do concede that the time value calculation does not take into account inflation but one should consider it when examining investments (perhaps as a benchmark by which one wants to measure their return on investment). Even though the US has had periods of deflation, if you were to examine us economic history inflation is much more likely and as such i think one should consider it.

History of US inflation
http://www.gherrity.org/cpi.html

[epm1013]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Eric P. Martin. I've read through most of the responses that have been given to Young Spark's original post. There are a lot of great ideas. However, I feel there are a few things missing if we all are of the same mindset.

The ideas that were shared aren't new. What's missing I feel is unity as a group to assist each other as a team. I don't know how long this thread has been going on, but has anyone thought about taking just one of the ideas, that everyone could implement and collectively each week, share the experiences of trying to implement that idea? Or better yet, use all of our skills and talents to be business partners on just one of the ideas that were offered?

I'm looking to start a mastermind group with a few individuals who are ready to grow wealthy together.

Let me know if your interested.

[Grev]

The tips given here are all very valid, yet I do encourage people to have some sort of subjectivity when taking these advices.

[roadtoharvard]

Originally Posted by TheCDAllenGroup

And I've read that pathetic blog of yours which is composed of nothing but useless, Industrial Age ideas.

What is an "Industrial Age Idea"? Can you give me some examples of "Industrial Age Ideas"? Can you cite some specific examples in my blog that are "Industrial Age"?Does "Industrial Age" have a negative connotation? If so why does it have this negative connotation?

Originally Posted by TheCDAllenGroup

I commented in that thread of yours but you never responded. I guess you didn't have an answer because you COULDN'T answer.

Are you referring to my thread that dealt with my blog post on