Freedom Is Like Inflation: You Lose 2-3% Every Year

Freedom Is Like Inflation: You Lose 2-3% Every Year

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  March 13, 2025

My grandfather was born on April 19, 1915 in a dirty, one-room shack in the town of Bonham, Texas. Given the era, they had no electricity and no running water. And the family considered themselves fortunate that both mother and baby survived childbirth.

Pretty much everyone in the area was a farm laborer; they worked long, hard days in the unforgiving Texas heat trying to beckon life from ungenerous soil. But it was a living-- one that my grandfather joined at an early age.

He was 14 years old-- considered a “man” by the standards of his time-- when the Great Depression struck.

Few people, including my grandfather, would have understood that the worst economic crisis in American history was a manmade virus cooked up in the laboratory of political incompetence. All he knew was that banks in his home town failed… and many of his neighbors lost their life savings overnight.

This led to a lifelong mistrust of the banking system-- not just for my grandfather, but for an entire generation.

Throughout his life he kept his savings in an old coffee can. It wasn’t a lockbox or combination safe. He didn’t even bother hiding it; my grandfather literally just stuffed bills and coins into a metal can under the kitchen sink. He didn’t worry much about security because everyone in town knew and trusted one another, and no one would dare violate another man’s home… let alone his coffee can.

The other thing he did was save. If there was one thing my grandfather hated, it was spending money. On anything. You name it.

Food? He grew it himself and fished at the nearby lake. Medical care? The man barely ever went to the doctor in his entire life. Insurance? He had no concept of what that even was. Recreation? No one had time for such trivialities.

So, he saved just about everything he earned, depositing his meager wages with a satisfying and encouraging ka-ching into the ‘Bank of the Coffee Can’ week after week.

Whenever the coffee can became overly full, he knew it was time to invest his savings into something more durable and long-lasting.

But I’m not talking about stocks. In fact, given that he lived through the Crash of 1929, my grandfather believed that only a reckless, crazy person would buy stocks. And this trauma was shared by much of his generation.

So instead, he emptied out the old coffee can and invested in the one thing that he truly understood: land, i.e. one of the realest of real assets.

He always knew, worst case, he could plant more food on his new land. And this security had far more value to him than any other asset.

Then the cycle would begin anew: work, save, work, save… until, eventually, the coffee can would fill up again. He’d then use that money to buy building material and then build a small house on the land. No construction crew, no contractors. Just his own two hands and some basic tools.

Once complete, he’d put the house up for rent-- I remember he typically charged by the week to coincide with the farm laborers’ weekly pay. And, again, everything was settled in cash… so the coffee can began to fill more quickly.

Soon there was enough money to build another small house. Then another. And another. This man was living a real-life version of the old board game Monopoly; the only thing he didn’t do was trade his houses out for hotels.

But he wasn’t unique. My grandfather was extremely typical of his generation: highly productive, self-reliant savers who worked hard and never expected anything for free.

In their value system, being unproductive was frowned upon. Vagrancy was a crime. If there were any jobs available, you were expected to have one, no matter what it was. If there were no jobs available, you were expected to be looking for one-- or figure out how to produce something of value on your own.

My grandmother was cut from the same cloth. And the two of them eventually had a pretty substantial real estate portfolio of rental homes.

One particular complex had about a dozen or so houses on it, and my grandmother was in charge of collecting all the rent. They built her a small office near the entrance of the property, and not being one to waste resources, my grandmother decided to open a beauty salon there.

Bear in mind, my grandmother never went to cosmetology school. She didn’t have a license. She didn’t pass through a myriad of state and local permitting inspectors. She just hung her shingle out one day and customers started showing up. And because she provided good service, the customers kept showing up.

This is the sort of thing you used to be able to do in America. The government didn’t smother its citizens with endless regulations; if you wanted to start a business, you started one. No one asked permission to produce.

This is an incredible contrast to the America of today. God help you if you want to start a restaurant in the State of California, where you’ll spend years in the permitting, licensing, and inspection process, only to have employees go on strike over Gaza while customers brazenly steal from you with legal impunity.

That may be an extreme example, but government regulation at the federal, state, and local levels continues to strangle businesses-- small and solo businesses in particular.

A few years ago, the Institute for Justice sampled 102 lower-income occupations in American and found a total of 2,749 license requirements across the fifty states, demanding hundreds of dollars in fees, exams, and an average 362 days of bureaucracy.

These are for vocations like tree-trimmer, hair-braider, fisherman, auctioneer, locksmith, upholsterer, florist, and even farm laborer.

(Neil Gorsuch, sitting US Supreme Court Justice, bemoans similar statistics in his excellent book Overruled, which I can’t recommend enough.)

But this didn’t happen overnight. From my grandparents’ era to today, the bureaucratic, administrative state crept in little by little.

The effect is much like inflation where you lose 2-3% of your purchasing power year after year. One year’s inflation is no big deal; it’s only after looking back 10 or 20 years can we see how expensive things have become.

I really appreciate the tremendous efforts by Elon Musk and the people at DOGE to cut government spending. It needs to happen-- responsible spending is critical to solving America’s $36+ trillion debt crisis.

But perhaps even more important is turning back the clock on regulations… and going back to an era where you didn’t need to ask permission to be productive.

To your freedom,  James Hickman

Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/freedom-is-like-inflation-you-lose-2-3-every-year-152295/

Inheritance Can Destroy A Family Or Be A Life-Changing Gift

Inheritance Can Destroy A Family Or Be A Life-Changing Gift

Here's how I advise my clients as an estate-planning attorney.
Story by insider@insider.com (Jen Glantz)

Dana Blue is an estate-planning attorney who helps families navigate assets after a loved one dies.  Inheritances can create an opportunity to purchase a house, return to school, or run a business.  They can also tear siblings apart and lead to losing a family legacy or even bankruptcy.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dana Blue, a 44-year-old estate planning, probate, and real estate attorney in Philadelphia. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

When I started my law practice in 2017, I drafted simple wills for free. Since then, I've expanded my practice to offer trust-centered estate planning and probate administration services.

I value the opportunity to support families during their times of grief, but sometimes, when you mix grief, money, and family dynamics, it can be a very volatile cocktail.

I work closely with heirs or beneficiaries to navigate them through the probate process. Once the assets are distributed, clients are often left with money, property, or a business. Some people inherit just a few thousand dollars, and others walk away with life-changing money.

After almost a decade of being an attorney, I've witnessed the variety of ways inheritance has changed people, both positively and destructively.

It can bring on newfound wealth, but it might come with more responsibilities

When you inherit a business, learning its operational, financial, and legal aspects is crucial. I've seen cases where people inherit their family's business with no experience and bankrupt it in just months due to poor financial management.

If you plan to keep the business within the family, developing a succession plan that details how the business will be transferred to the next generation, including training and mentoring the future leaders, is vital.

TO READ MORE:  Inheritance can destroy a family or be a life-changing gift. Here's how I advise my clients as an estate-planning attorney.

3 Records You Should Keep Indefinitely Once Your Taxes Are Filed

I’m a Tax Expert: 3 Records You Should Keep Indefinitely Once Your Taxes Are Filed

Kerra Bolton   Fri, March 14, 2025  GOBankingRates

While it could be tempting to throw away documents after filing tax returns, doing so could put you at financial and legal risk. Maintaining certain financial records indefinitely can safeguard against future tax disputes, facilitate asset management and ensure compliance.

 “It is important to keep documents that affect future years forever, such as documents related to losses that have created carryovers, agreements and investment records, which may create future cash basis,” said Crystal Stranger, senior tax director and CEO of Optic Tax.

While the IRS provides guidelines on the minimum duration for retaining various documents, GOBankingRates spoke to two tax and financial experts to explore three records you should keep indefinitely once your taxes are filed.

Filed Tax Return Copies

Individuals should keep copies of their filed federal and state tax returns even for years after they’re filed.

“General tax return documents should be kept at least three years,” Stranger said. “But it can be good to keep records for seven years, because the IRS could go back that far if there are certain types of underreported income or fraud.”

These documents serve as a historical record of an individual’s income, deductions and tax payments.

“If you get rid of tax records and then later need them, you will not have what you need to substantiate your deductions or credits,” Stranger explained. “This can cause a loss or reduction in allowed deductions, and you could end up owing taxes.”

Property and Real Estate Records

Documents related to property ownership, such as deeds, titles and records of significant home improvements, should also be kept.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/m-tax-expert-3-records-160112864.html

Grow Money Like the Rockefeller Family

Grow Money Like the Rockefeller Family– 5 Ways They Created Generational Wealth

Caitlyn Moorhead  Thu, March 13, 2025   GOBankingRates

There is no way around the Rockefeller name being associated with money, as it’s synonymous with immense wealth and the realization of the American Dream. The family’s fortune, established by America’s first billionaire John D. Rockefeller Sr., the founder of the Standard Oil Company in the late 19th century, has endured for generations, making the Rockefellers one of the wealthiest families in history.

In large part, this massive amount of money was thanks to the following factors:

• At one point, the company-controlled 90% of U.S. refineries and pipelines, which led Rockefeller to become the richest man in the world and one of the first billionaires.

• The family fortune was valued at over $600 billion in today’s dollars. Today, that translates to one of America’s richest families having a net worth of $10.3 billion.

• The Standard Oil Company would later evolve into the ExxonMobil and Chevron corporations that everyone knows today.

• The Rockefellers also developed one of the first major business trusts, which controlled Chase Manhattan Bank, now known as Chase Bank.

• The Rockefeller Foundation went on to establish themselves as industrialists and philanthropists throughout U.S. history, and have given away an estimated $1 billion to varying charitable causes.

Over a century later, the Rockefeller generational wealth still establishes them as one of the richest families in the world. Valued at $10.3 billion among 70 heirs and family members, the fact that the Rockefellers have continued to keep the wealth in the family for decades is proof of their knowledge in investing in generational wealth building. Here are five ways the Rockefellers built and sustained their generational wealth.

Diversified Investments

To further grow the Rockefeller wealth, they safeguarded their real estate and bond investments which supplied both physical assets that grew in value over time and consistent income. A well-diversified and balanced portfolio helped offset riskier ventures and protected their fortune.

The Rockefellers recognized the importance of diversification in wealth preservation. While the initial fortune was built on oil, the family expanded their investments into various sectors over the years and have stakes in real estate, industry and even venture capital, thus ensuring a consistent growth and safeguarding of their wealth against market volatility.

Rockefeller Center alone was purchased out by Jerry Sperry for a whopping $1.8 billion. With Exxon mobiles and Chevron stations still being built today, the family has consumed and purchased many companies over time such as General Mills, Kellogg, Nestle, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Procter and Gamble to name only a few.

Though most of us don’t have billions lying around to purchase a company like Nestle, it is great advice to diversify one’s money into companies, through our own research, to bank on being successful.

Philanthropy and Reputation Management

Philanthropy has been a significant aspect of the Rockefeller family’s legacy, and each generation has taken up the torch. In fact, he and his son John D Rockefeller Jr. dedicated themselves to philanthropy, giving away more than $1 billion and establishing the University of Chicago.

The establishment of numerous charitable foundations has not only contributed positively to global society but also helped in maintaining and enhancing the family’s reputation. Their philanthropic efforts have facilitated network building and influence expansion, inadvertently aiding in wealth preservation and growth.

Simply put, the more you give, the more you make.

Strategic Financial Management

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/grow-money-rockefeller-family-5-130046841.html

8 Key Signs of a Quiet Millionaire

8 Key Signs of a Quiet Millionaire, According to Rachel Cruze

Ashley Donohoe  Thu, March 13, 2025  GOBankingRates

When you think about millionaires, you might picture people who visibly show off their expensive things or who got rich by receiving an inheritance or making one lucky investment.

However, the National Study of Millionaires by Ramsey Solutions showed that millionaires more often built their wealth by more ordinary means, like stashing funds in a 401(k), and many didn’t even earn extremely high salaries. It can even be hard to tell who is rich sometimes.

A recent YouTube video from financial expert Rachel Cruze looked at eight common signs that can help you identify “quiet” millionaires.

Not Living Paycheck to Paycheck

A recent Pymnts Intelligence report found that 65% of respondents relied on their next paycheck. That number also included some Americans who lived paycheck to paycheck but didn’t necessarily struggle to pay their bills.

Quiet millionaires don’t share this problem. Cruze explained that such people thrive because they have a bigger margin thanks to budgeting and not spending excessively.

Not Worrying About Upcoming Expenses

Unlike those living paycheck to paycheck, quiet millionaires are less worried about becoming financially damaged if they face a big expense. They’ve already saved up the money.

“Having an emergency fund for upcoming expenses for the unexpected is key, but then also planning for upcoming expenses ahead of time, being proactive,” Cruze explained.

Investing Money Wisely

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/8-key-signs-quiet-millionaire-150135402.html

4 Types of Financial Documents You Should Keep Together at All Times

4 Types of Financial Documents You Should Keep Together at All Times in Case of Emergency — Here’s Why

Adam Palasciano  Tue, March 11, 2025  GOBankingRates

Life is full of the unexpected. You never know when you may find yourself in dire straits or faced with an emergency that’s totally out of your control. Sadly, Americans are affected by weather-related disasters now more than ever before.

According to the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 2024 alone was full of “billion-dollar” weather-related natural disasters: There were 27 individual weather and climate disasters with at least $1 billion in damages, which is only one less than the record of 28 events in 2023. Last year’s natural disasters took nearly 600 lives and cost approximately $182.7 billion in total.

With natural disasters on the rise, you’ll absolutely need to be prepared for whatever comes your way. This includes having a “financial go bag” at the ready.

A financial go bag is basically what it sounds like: It’s a bag with everything related to your finances, identity, emergency contacts and medical information that you need to keep on your person.

Here are four specific categories of items you’ll want to be sure you have in your financial go bag.

Financial and Legal Documents

Having copies of any applicable financial and legal documents printed and at the ready is critical, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For example, if your home is destroyed in a fire, maintaining copies of these documents in your go bag may be the only physical proof you have of account ownership.

These include but are not limited to the following types of documents:

• Credit and debit card statements

• Checking account statements

• Savings account statements

• Retirement and investment account statements

• Utility bills

• Student loan statements

• Alimony and child support documents

• Elder care information.

Identification

When faced with a catastrophe, you’ll need to have at least a few forms of identification in your bag, according to FEMA.

TO READ MORE:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-types-financial-documents-keep-150101110.html

3 Ways To Avoid Being Exploited As You Get Older

3 Ways To Avoid Being Exploited As You Get Older

‘They left us with nothing’: This elderly couple was evicted from their home of 20 years — after their son transferred ownership. 3 ways to avoid being exploited as you get older

Serah Louis   Sun, September 24, 2023

An elderly California couple was devastated when they were served an eviction notice in April for the home they’d been making regular payments on for two decades.

Ismael and Angelita Ramirez purchased their home back in 2003 with their son, who told them they didn’t need to include their name on the title.

"He told us they told him it wasn't necessary. And well, since we don't know English, that's where they lied to us," Ishmael told FOX26 News.

The eviction notice reportedly stated that the owner of the home was selling the property and the couple said they later learned their son had transferred the home to a woman who sent them the notice. Although the couple tried to get legal help, there wasn’t much the lawyer could do since the house wasn’t in their name.

“We thought, why did our boy do that to us if he knew the house was ours?" Ishmael said.

Elder financial abuse impacts millions of Americans

The Ramirezes were victims of elder abuse — which is far more common than you’d think.

In fact, the National Council on Aging reports up to five million older Americans are affected each year, while victims of financial abuse are estimated to lose at least $36.5 billion a year.

And in almost 60% of cases, the perpetrator is a family member — often the adult child or spouse of the victim.

The Ramirezes told FOX26 they’ve since been displaced and their Social Security income isn’t enough to buy a new home or even afford rent.

"They left us with nothing," Ismael said.

Their other son, Ismael Jr., created a GoFundMe fundraiser, which has already received more than 1,600 donations to help the couple.

Here are five ways to avoid being exploited as you get older, or to protect your aging parents from predators.

1. Appoint a power of attorney

A power of attorney (POA) allows an individual to act on your behalf in legal or business matters — and you can appoint this person while you’re in control of your mental faculties.

Appointing a financial POA allows someone to manage your financial affairs, like signing and mailing checks, filing tax returns and managing investments on your behalf. They can have specific and limited powers, or more broad capabilities.

But most importantly, be careful who you select to safeguard your finances, as the Ramirezes learned firsthand. You should only appoint someone you really trust — but you can tell your (trusted) friends and family about your POA so they can look out for you. You could also request that your agent report to another person so that they’re held accountable for any transactions they make on your behalf.

TO READ MORE: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/left-us-nothing-elderly-couple-100000273.html

How To Handle Cash Savings Of Deceased Parents

How To Handle Cash Savings Of Deceased Parents

Liz Weston   Sun, March 9, 2025  LA Times

Dear Liz: My mother passed away a little over a year ago, and my father about 18 months prior to her. I discovered that my parents saved up quite a lot of cash (in the six figures), and I'm afraid to deposit it without triggering the IRS.

My parents routinely saved anywhere from $5,000 to up to $20,000 per year for the last 30 years. I read my mom's handwriting on the envelopes with the dates. How can I deposit all this without triggering the IRS? Some of the bills are “vintage” so I will keep them to see if they're worth more than face value. I also thought about using it to buy real estate.

 Answer: You mention “triggering the IRS” as if your deposit might set off an explosion of audit notices and tax liens. In reality, you’re far more likely to cause yourself grief by trying to avoid IRS notice than you are by simply depositing the money.

Banks report large cash deposits — typically those of $10,000 or more — to the IRS as a way to combat money laundering. Anti-money-laundering rules also have been extended to real estate deals. Banks are looking for smaller deposits that could add up to more than $10,000, so don’t think spreading out the deposits will help you avoid scrutiny.

“Depositing the money all at once would probably arouse less suspicion with the bank than making a continuing series of deposits just under $10,000,” says Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.

Luscombe suggests retaining all those envelopes with your mother’s handwriting. If you are questioned by your bank or the IRS, the envelopes could help show your parents were gradually saving the money over time rather than engaging in some money-raising scheme on which taxes were never paid.

You didn’t mention if your parents had wills or other estate documents, or if there are other beneficiaries. Consult with an estate planning attorney to see if the cash needs to be deposited in the name of your mother’s estate.

TO READ MORRE:   https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/handle-cash-savings-deceased-parents-100048077.html

7 Worst Mistakes Boomers Can Make With Money — and How To Avoid Them

7 Worst Mistakes Boomers Can Make With Money — and How To Avoid Them

Cindy Lamothe    Sun, March 9, 2025   GOBankingRates

Every generation comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. For boomers, there are certain fumbles they can make with money that will significantly hinder their financial situation in retirement.

 “Boomers often face financial pitfalls that can jeopardize their retirement,” said Stewart Willis, President of Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax.

Below are some of the worst mistakes and how to avoid them.

 Putting All Investments Into Cryptocurrency

According to Melanie Musson, finance expert with Insurance Providers, some boomers make the mistake of putting all their investments into cryptocurrency.

“Crypto has had an impressive run. It could grow rapidly, or it could fizzle. It’s risky. High-risk investments have a place in a diversified portfolio, but they’re not where a boomer should allocate all their savings.”

She noted that boomers’ retirement finances don’t have time to bounce back from a major loss.

Instead of putting everything into crypto, she advised investing in a diversified portfolio favoring Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck options.

Racking Up Credit Card Debt

Another financial pitfall is racking up credit card debt.

“Credit card debt is expensive. Interest rates are ridiculously high. If you get into credit card debt, you’ll pay back far more than you borrowed, making your retirement savings disappear more quickly than you anticipated,” said Musson.’

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/7-worst-mistakes-boomers-money-110043895.html

4 Subtle Signs Someone Is Fake Rich vs. Actually Rich

4 Subtle Signs Someone Is Fake Rich vs. Actually Rich

Cindy Lamothe  Fri, March 7, 2025  GOBankingRates

We all have that one friend who loves to draw attention to their wealth and their flashy lifestyle. “Have you checked out my Prada bag?” they’ll say, or, “I just had the most exquisite meal!”

These friends have perfectly curated Instagram feeds and highlight their luxury items like it’s their job. So, you think, they must be loaded, right? Not so fast, say money experts. Not all that glitters is gold.

 “I once advised a client who drove a flashy sports car and wore expensive watches yet struggled to qualify for a basic credit card,” said Abid Salahi, finance expert and co-founder of FinlyWealth. “Genuinely rich individuals often prioritize financial security over ostentatious displays of wealth.”

This stark contrast between outward appearance and financial reality is a common red flag for fake wealth. Understanding these nuances, Salahi explained, is crucial in today’s society, where social media often blurs the lines between perception and reality.

“True wealth is about financial security and freedom, not just the outward trappings of success,” added Salahi.

Keep reading for a look at more subtle signs that someone is faking their wealth.

Living Paycheck to Paycheck Despite High Income

According to Salahi, the distinctions between fake rich and actually rich individuals are often subtle but telling.

A key sign, he explained, is when someone is spending every dollar earned on maintaining appearances. On the other hand, truly wealthy people try to maintain a modest lifestyle relative to their income to avoid struggling with money.

“Warren Buffett, worth billions, still lives in the same house he bought in 1958 for $31,500,” added Salahi.

Excessive Brand Consciousness

Another sign?

“Constantly showcasing luxury brands, often with visible logos,” said Salahi. “Truly wealthy people tend to focus on building long-term value rather than short-term appearances.”

In other words: they focus on experiences over material possessions.

“The truly wealthy often value travel, education and personal growth more than accumulating luxury items.”

Lack of Financial Literacy

TO READ MORE: https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/4-subtle-signs-someone-fake-160002739.html