Many of us gained net worth in 2020 by having a stable job and investing in the stock market (some gained a lot by investing in Tesla, ARK etc.). In the meantime, millions of people lost jobs and could not afford rent (and these same people are unlikely to have benefited from the stock market). How do you feel about it?

I’m not expecting any “correct answer” as I don’t think there is one correct answer. Just how people actually feel about it

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My dad works in foreign affairs. When I was young we travelled all around the world to different countries where we saw income inequality so fierce that it would make you hate yourself for having any good thing in your life. When I spoke to my dad about this, he said - “are you going to pay all your taxes when you’re older?” I said yep. He said in a democracy that is the ultimate sacrifice and charity. We all contribute to improve the lives of those who don’t have enough not only in this country but all around the globe with the taxes we pay. It’s also on us on who we choose that get to spend that money. If we make good choices in our government, the money too will follow. You are doing even better by contributing to charity - but it’s a drop in the bucket. Be involved politically, choose the right leaders locally who invest in your community - and things will become better slowly.

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For someone to win in the stock market, someone has to lose. I also believe in individual ability. Some people choose to sit around and watch Netflix and play games. I don’t. My hobby is literally investing and reading. Boring but it’s what I do. I’m sure that if things went south, I would still be able to pick myself up

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The key here is the lack of education. It’s been generations since we have actual financial and investing literacy as a requirement to graduate high school.

I JUST started heavily investing since Dec. 2019. In my mid-30s because in the past you used to have to go through a broker and they won’t help unless you have a high net worth, super liquid assets, trades cost x amount, etc. it was complicated, time consuming and expensive.

Now if you have a phone, a bank account, and pretty much $5 you can get started on your own.

Knowing the basics and different philosophies and strategies are essential for success.

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I’ll start - definitely mixed feelings:

I feel I’m lucky, for sure;

Part of me feel I deserve it - I worked hard, got good education, taught myself about being financially responsible so I have savings to invest and prepare for gains when the market goes up

Part of me feel guilty for contributing to income inequality and knowing people suffer during COVID. I donated to COVID relief charities ($1k, very immaterial to what I make) and gave extra tips to grocery and food delivery people. What I cannot distinguish is by doing so do I genuinely want to help people or just to make myself feel less bad (probably 50/50)

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Same. Came from developing country and excellent academic habits. I will not raise lazy kids!!!!! Children take on the habits they see at home, the parents' hobbies become family activities. Through my own behavior I am confident I will influence and instill theirs, nor am I attracted to guys who play video games for example. Therefore building a strong partnership with my husband I am confident I will raise strong, smart and nice kiddos.

Andrew Yang was right. We need Universal Basic Income

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It’s not like UBI and other cash transfers are purely theoretical. They have been implemented in many countries and those countries have not declined into low productivity and output economies.

i read an article about living pay check by paycheck. Not because low salary, but lack of self control and financial literacy. No saving is a bit risk

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And who paid for college?

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I gained hundreds of thousands in net worth. On the downside I had to get rid of a tenant for not paying rent. I honestly would have tried harder to work with them but they were spoiled brats who felt entitled to stay even with no job, no money, and no future prospects for a job. I can’t subsidize their life.

Overall I feel very lucky for the position I am in. I hope to start a business shortly with this New net worth and hopefully can create about 35 jobs as a result.

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PwC 2, are you really counting “real estate appreciation” in your “hundreds of thousands” increase in net worth in 2020? Right. Ok.

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I feel absolutely no guilt whatsoever.

I do, however, realize that my positive outcome and general success are at least partially the result of luck and some good breaks.

I’m educated, I’m smart, I work hard, I am disciplined, and I’m good at delaying gratification. Despite all of those things, my positive outcomes in life also involved some good luck - my first professional job was a good job at a great regional firm, but it was the only offer I received while in law school and it could have gone differently had some other people accepted their offers before the firm extended an offer to me. Just one small example of a little luck being involved.

So yes, I feel fortunate, I feel lucky, I recognize that my success was not solely the result of my strengths. But I feel absolutely no guilt about that success.

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I don’t feel any differently about it than I did the year before, or 5 years before.

I am not smarter or harder working than others. I simply am lucky. Not more deserving in any way.

The world is unfair. Life is unfair. This is how it is and how it has always been.

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You actually probably are smarter and harder working, but that may be viewed as good luck in some ways too if you were so inclined.

We aren’t all born equal. That’s just a fact. I’m short and thin. That’s the hand the genetic lottery dealt me.

The genetic lottery also dealt most of us in this bowl a good hand in intellect and discipline. Wr are all born with the potential to be different heights and BMI, so why should we make believe that we are all born with the same intellectual potential?

Suggesting we are all of roughly the same intellect but just lucky smacks of pandering.

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You got to where you are by a series of choices you made. Don’t feel guilty over the choices you made to get to where you are. I have friends who are teachers and can accurately predict who will “make it.”

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No one has the right to say who will "make it" and who won't. A teacher's job is to teach every individual in a way the individual can comprehend.

With that said, majority of the people in my life thought I won't "make it". I'd like to say I performed better than I expected because of the handful of teachers/mentors who saw my strengths and furthermore helped me recognize my strengths.

Motivate and Inspire!

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This kind of inequality is why progressive taxation exists, and why I support progressive taxation even though it costs me more $$ as a well paid professional. Like another poster said, pay your taxes and support politicians who address poverty and comparable issues at scale.

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It’s definitely tough. I am a black woman making six figures. My investments grew quite a bit this year. My personal savings account also grew pretty substantially just from being home and not doing anything. I paid about 7k down on grad student loans in just 5-6 months I guess. I paid off my car two weeks after the shutdown in March. Today I got a small increase, but I feel bad for my friends that have not had a raise in years or are in low paying jobs. But I’m thankful for what I have and hope to give back in some way.

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Privileged and lucky

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I certainly feel terrible for all the people suffering economically right now, I also know many people who have lost parents and grandparents to COVID complications. There was a young man in my community who was under 40 who left a wife and 3 kids behind when he passed away from the virus, I donated to the fund set up for the family, not sure what else to do. Is it fair that he died from the virus while I survived when I got COVID last April and am still here to support my family? I don’t know how I feel about that. Just a crummy year all around.

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This is the reason why I started a company that is not based on the old “traditional” investment model - but still offers excellent returns. Cooperative Investing is the new socially responsible way to make money while helping create a better quality of life for others. I leaned about this 20 years ago and feel so blessed that I’m able to build a company that is not just beholden to investor returns but social, health and economic returns as well.

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Mixed feelings to be sure.

My faith informs much of my personal finance philosophy- I currently give away around 10% of my gross income to churches & charities. There’s a concept in the Bible about being blessed TO BE a blessing. It’s not all about hoarding money or laying up treasures on earth. There’s a lot said about generosity and helping others. And more said about stinginess of soul and the exploitation of others.

I’m working towards giving away more money, supporting local businesses, and making sure my actions align with what I say I believe.

Not perfect at all but I want to close the gap and help others. I also want to start a business so I can participate in job creation.

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I supported small businesses and gave tips even for pickups.

Also, I voted. No matter what side you are on, the process was completely mismanaged. I can’t even process how folks have only received two single payments per person since March. And these assholes tried to end Obamacare yet again! How do the financially insecure and the socioeconomically challenged not see this?

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I am extremely grateful for all that I have. My husband and I have said numerous times this year how thankful we are to be where we are and to have what we have. We have worked for it and have earned it, but also know that we had a lot of benefit and opportunity along the way that helped us (good parents, excellent education, etc.).

We have always given back to our communities through donations and volunteer work. This year we have given more to the charities we normally support. We also have helped out some families we know that had rough times due to job losses or reductions in hours. We’ve been trying our best to support our favorite local businesses by buying dinner from them or shopping at their stores.

Our attitude has been that we have been especially fortunate this year so part of our responsibility is to help make sure that we take care of others as well.

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Ron Paul was right...we need to reign in government spending!

Everyone will always be taxed by the government either directly or indirectly (inflation). As the government spends more the value of the dollar goes down. Those who are poor who do not have the ability to invest end out losing to inflation while those who can invest beat inflation nearly every year. This is the largest reason for our large wealth gap, 21 years of growing deficit spending. Never did I think I would want to return to the Clinton era 😝

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