Saving and Investing
As I explained in, “Money,” it is a tangible representation of one’s independence and production, as well as the means to freedom itself. The section assumes one is productive and is interested in the best ways to protect their wealth and work to make it grow.
Be A Millionaire
In the “Practical Freedom” section I pointed out there are over 3 million American millionaires and over ten million millionaires world-wide. Most of those millionaires are not people with six figure salaries, but simply people who properly managed whatever money they made. The average household income in the US is about $55,000.00 per year. Any competent independent individualist ought to be able to make at least $55,000.00 per year, and anyone making that much money can be a millionaire.
$55,000.00 per year is $4583.33 per month. Statistically and historically, millionaires save 20% of their income, but even if one only saves 12%, for example, 12% of $4583.33 is $550.00 per month, which if saved leaves $4033.33 per month for all other expenses.
$550.00 per month is $6600.00 per year. If that $6600.00 is invested in a decent mutual fund, a return of at least 12% annually can be expected, on average. If the same amount is invested every year for 25 years (say from 25 to 50) the total amount at the end of those 25 years would be $1,097,804.39.
After 30 years (say from 25 to 55) the total would be $1,981,666.69.
After 35 years (say from 20 to 55) the total would be $3,539,334.06.
Even if the average yield is only 9% after 35 years the total would be $1,686,555.36.
It is obvious that being able to collect interest on one’s saving helps one’s savings grow, and the reason is because money invested is used by those who receive it to produce products and services. But even if it were not possible to earn interest on one’s money, saving is still very important. If one were very frugal and could manage to save half of all the money they earned, if they made $55,000.00 per year, and saved $27,500.00 a year, in 40 years they would have saved $1,100,000.00.
If you think these methods take a long time, they do. As I wrote in the “Introduction,” “there are no shortcuts.” Of course, earning more, saving more, and working harder to make wiser investment can all make reaching the level of wealth one requires to be free achievable in less time. I not suggesting these are the best ways for one to obtain wealth. The real point is that most competent individuals are capable of producing the amount of wealth that would help make them free, but most squander their wealth on things that do not help them achieve their true goals in life.
But that is another subject having to do with philosophy and the ethical principles of a long view as opposed to a range-of-the-moment subjectivist or hedonistic view of life.
For Your Research
No one can tell you the best ways for you to save and invest your money. The very best investment is in that business you have complete control of, which is your own, but for those who cannot invest in themselves, where to invest is one of those things that require your best effort. It’s work which you must do.
The rest of this section is meant to provide some resources for your own research.
Investment Experts
Below are links to some of the best advisers and resources I know of on the WEB. Ultimately, the only authority the independent individualist can rely on is the authority of his own mind, but we can learn from those who are successful, and perhaps share with each other what we have learned as well. (Which is one reason for the Freedom Forum (link to defunct forum), of course.)
From banking to investment to owning and running a business there is one thing almost all these experts recommend, that whatever you do, do it offshore, especially if you are an American living in the US. (Perhaps you ought not to be living in the US. Read “Ten Benefits of Expatriation.“)
Here is one word of warning. Unless you intend to be a professional investor, it is easy to become obsessed with this field of finances to the detriment of time and energy one ought to be devoting to their own life objectives and interests. One needs to do their homework if they are going to be investing, but the effort should only be toward achieving specific goals.
CaseyResearch—from **Doug Casey**, successful professional investor and writer. Here is a source of ideas, always worth considering, as well as many **“free” publications**. (Of course nothing is free, and you’ll end up with more than you signed up for, but that’s still a low price.)
Daily Reckoning, The—”Primarily reports from the international financial capitals of London, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, and Dubai. As well as from any locale where an important story can be found, be it Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Egypt, India, South Africa, Nepal, Nicaragua, Thailand, Vietnam, or any other country, and, in the US, from New York to California, from Maryland to Missouri, and from Utah to Florida.”
International Living—Offshore—”Learn about offshore banking, investing, and asset protection. Now is the time to diversify your portfolio and move outside the U.S. and its sinking dollar.”
Preserving Your Wealth & Privacy—Mark Nestmann has helped hundreds of clients seeking wealth preservation and international tax planning solutions. Mark is a member of “The Sovereign Society.”
Q Wealth Report—”We empower our members with the know-how and the nuts and bolts necessary to keep your affairs private, preserve your wealth, and let it blossom in a secure environment away from taxation and government interference!”
Sovereign Society, The—”The Sovereign Society’s highly qualified Council of Experts, consist of carefully chosen professionals located in select tax and asset havens around the world. Our experts have spent their careers discovering the best global investments, the safest tax havens and the most secure devices in which to protect your assets.”
Stealth Investor, The—”John Pugsley’s investment page and newsletter.” John Pugsley is a co-founder of “The Sovereign Society.”
There are no shortcuts, and no “get rich quick” schemes. Investing is studied and careful use of one’s money that will both preserve one’s wealth, and provide reasonalbe growth as well.
Here is a good article Fail-Safe Investing—Harry Browne’s Permanent Portfolio from GetRich Slow
Here is an article to shows exactly what the yields on Harry Browne’s Permanent Portfolio were since 1972: Permanent Portfolio Historical Returns.