Here are some of the best personal finance and fintech posts from September 2019.
Contents
Banking & Budgeting
Non-Banks Jumping Into Banking Roles – Money Under 30
Fintech companies will continue to lead the charge when it comes to innovation within the banking and overall financial sectors.
Credit & Debt
America’s Wealth Hinges on Its Ability to Borrow Big – Or Else
Imagine a world where you would not be able to borrow or go into debt. If this were the case. “U.S. per capita income of $66,900 would be slashed to a negative $4,857 using this measure. That’s a total loss of almost $72,000 for every man, woman and child.”
Student Loan Debt: Understanding The Growing National Crisis – Money Under 30
A great resource (albeit frightening trend) on student loan debt. $1.6 Trillion in student loan debt and growing will, unfortunately, put a drag on the economy for years to come.
Visualizing Healthcare Spending By Country – Visual Capitalist
Unfortunately, not at all surprising. The United States leads by a long shot when it comes to the overall total cost and expense of healthcare. And, likely will continue on this path so long as it remains the center of any political discussion. In the meantime, taxpayers will bear the brunt of the cost.
Investing
Debunking the Silly “Passive is a Bubble Myth” – A Wealth Of Common Sense
I have heard this argument come up before and never considered it to have any merit. Most of the time the argument comes from either money managers or investment advisors.
A Behavioral Prescription – The Irrelevant Investor
Bottomline – Stick to your investment and avoid the noise that now comes from 24/7 garbage. This game will show you just why it is foolish to go in and out of investing thinking you are somehow smarter than everyone else. When instead, it is the “average” investor who has been and will continue to handily beat the “experts”. Stick to a broad-based index fund like the S&P 500 for all of your investing needs and you will be just fine!
Personal Finance
How Americans Spend Money – Get Rich Slowly
A fascinating look into how Americans spend their money. Not only interesting data but also great data for if you are looking to start a business or into what you might want to study.
I spent 2 years cleaning houses. What I saw makes me never want to be rich. – Vox
I have long wanted the trend in home size to go down. It seems as though my wish is not coming true! The square footage in homes is growing even as fewer people, on average, live in those homes. This article shows you the other reasons for why you should be seeking a smaller home and avoiding a larger one at all costs!
We’ve Reached Peak Wellness. Most Of It Is Nonsense – Outside
An article I wish I had the patience and expertise to write. Instead, let this one take care of it for me! Recognize that all of these new “wellness” schemes are just a way for people to move money from your pocket into theirs and you will escape unscathed!
The Beauty of Simplicity – Budgets Are Sexy
In today’s culture anywhere in the first world, it can seem almost unbearably difficult to keep things simple. We are blessed (and I would argue – cursed as overabundance and indulgence climbs on) to have so much. This includes; stuff (clothes, toys, items in general) but this also goes for our financial lives. Do yourself a favor and keep things simple!
Podcasts
What Makes Us Happy? – Bishop Robert Barron
Faith, Hope & Love (Thomas Aquinas – I want nothing except you) Perform the simplest act of love. God is Love. Faith, hope, and Love connects you directly to God…that’s all you need! Willing the good of somebody else is Love. Bishop Barron and the Word On Fire team produce another amazing podcast on what ultimately it is that will make us happy.
Real Estate
The Cost Of Selling Your Home – A Wealth Of Common Sense
The largest and final industry that is ripe for disruption is real estate. Some have argued that the 2025 real estate agent will be the 2019 version of cab drivers. I am not so certain. However, I do believe that commissions will come down from where they have been. In my opinion, the major reason this industry has been so hard to disrupt is that buying and selling real estate is a hyper-local industry. Think for a moment how many real estate agents you are either related to or friends with. So, when it comes to buying or selling real estate how likely are you to turn to the computer or app on your phone even though by doing so the cost comes down and the convenience goes up considerably. This article sheds light on the true cost of selling your home!
Videos
Look Up – Gary Turk
“Step away from the phone! Learn to coexist! Look into someone else’s eyes! There’s no skipping, no hopscotch, no church and no steeple. We’re a generation of idiots. Smartphones and dumb people.”
To see previous months' top picks click here.