A Tale of Two Kingdoms

My friend Bill at Wealth Well Done writes some true-ish stories as a creative way to communicate financial wisdom. So, in honor of Bill and of the parables of Jesus (many of which had to do, at least on the surface, with money), I've created a parable of my own:

A Tale of Two Kingdoms

https://pixabay.com/en/stirling-castle-scotland-stirling-202103/

There once was a kingdom with a very powerful army. One day, the king realized that he could make money while also providing protection for the nations he had conquered: he would allow the conquered nations to maintain their existing social orders, including their own forms of government. In return, each nation could choose one of a few different levels of protection—the amount of the conquered nation’s annual tribute depended on the level of protection they selected.

Links October 2016

Donald Trump could have had twice as much money as he has now if he'd retired 30 years ago and invested his money into index funds:
http://www.moneytalksnews.com/why-youre-probably-better-investing-than-donald-trump/?all=1

The Parable of the Little Red Hen:
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/makers-vs-takers

We need to encourage entrepreneurial spirit like this:
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/we-need-more-entrepreneurial-children-one

You're not going to get any help in retirement--not from the government, not from your employer. Plan accordingly: http://redpillmoney.blogspot.com/2015/08/saving-means-investing-or-how-to-fund.html

College isn't for everyone. This entertaining video explains more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CmbJzPmQ-M

Speaking of college, jlcollinsnh includes this gem:
"Moreover, one of the more unfortunate results of spiraling college costs and debt is the way it has warped the very concept of higher education. Rather than the pursuit of learning and culture, it has become the pursuit of job training in an effort to secure employment that will justify the astounding cost and debt incurred.

"Even successfully applied, this shackles young people to jobs long after the appeal has faded. Youth should be spent exploring—building and expanding one’s horizons—not grinding away in chains."
http://jlcollinsnh.com/2015/03/26/stocks-part-xxviii-debt-the-unacceptable-burden/
-Amen, brother!

And also this, from the very popular James Altucher: http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/01/8-alternatives-to-college/
When one or two people buck the trend, they may be visionaries--or they may be saying something edgy for the sake of saying something edgy. But when a lot of successful people are saying the same thing, there's probably something to it!

Maybe baby boomers should quit complaining about the 'attitude of entitlement' in the generation they raised:
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/boomers-you-made-us

Speaking of entitlement: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/19/college-student-blames-parents-after-blows-0g-college-fund/

How and why the media sometimes creates "news" that may or may not be true:
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/war-worlds-how-media-%E2%80%9Ccreates%E2%80%9D-news