#126. The robots are here! Are humans finished?

Stuff is cheap. You should spend more on experiences.

In this episode, Trishul and Aaron dive into the world of "stuff." They reflect on their spending patterns and attitudes towards material goods versus life-enriching experiences. As the affordability of items increases, they explore strategies to avoid overconsumption, considering not only the physical space it occupies but also its broader impact on life. They propose a thought-provoking idea: true wealth comes from desiring less than what you own, understanding that no quantity of material possessions can surpass the happiness brought by appreciating what you already have.

Episode References
MMS #3: Does money buy happiness?
MMS #65: The most important financial advice in your 20's
MMS #112: Here's why you need to spend more

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

How do you navigate the emotional landscape of deciding whether to sell or hold stock when there's no pressing financial goal guiding your choice?

In this episode, Aaron explores a unique situation: a client facing an IPO without needing to sell stock for their lifestyle. Trishul weighs in with the concept of 'homo economicus' and frameworks for handling concentrated stock positions. They delve into the emotional journey of such financial decisions. What's the impact of holding onto stock through a crash, or selling it and seeing it soar? Join us for a deep dive into the complex interplay of finance, emotion, and life-changing choices.

Episode References
Meg Bartelt - Giant Pile of Company Stock
What to do after a windfall?
Homo Economicus
Graystone Advisor: Buying Stocks For Fun

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

W-2 employees can still have an entrepreneurial mindset, right?

In this episode, Trishul and Aaron examine mechanical differences between W-2 employees and self-employed individuals, including contractors. While W-2 employees get several benefit-related decisions made for them, they also have to take the employer's choices. A psychological growth mindset can help. Do you prefer "Entrepreneur's GET to figure everything out for themselves" or "Entrepreneurs HAVE to figure out everything for themselves"? The world may be moving towards the latter whether you like it or not.

Episode References
MMS #129: Ideal day, week...and societal expectations?
Motley Fool: 1099 vs W-2
Forbes: W-2 vs 1099
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Let the kid grab the egg
Quickbooks: 1099 vs W-2
Kitces: S-Corp reduces self-employment taxes

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

Education is designed to produce employees, not entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Aaron and Trishul reflect on whether their advice applies to most people. Not everyone can structure their calendars like small business owners. For those who are hard-working and ambitious early in their careers, there are a few different ways to enact a mindset shift to allow them to pursue the freedoms they want in life. Trishul further argues that our current education system pushes students towards being a cog within a large organization and that a better education system might allow more people to pursue their passions earlier in life.

Episode References
MMS #129: Ideal day, week...and societal expectations?
MMS #130. Manage expectations to cultivate your ideal year.
Jeff Sandefer TED Talk
How to Seek Validation from Within
The Gap and the Gain
Adam Smith The Wealth of Nation

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

Ideal year and managing expectations.

In this episode, Trishul and Aaron continue the exercise of "Ideal Day, Week, and Year." Aaron clarifies his thoughts regarding the differences between his ideal day and week. They discuss the relationship between discipline and freedom and how embracing both allows you to find a balance. They end up discussing how underpromising and overdelivering are more important than filling up your plate while acknowledging that this is easier said than done, especially for entrepreneurs compared to W-2 employees.

Episode References
MMS #129: Ideal day, week...and societal expectations?
MMS #15. George Kinder: Three life questions that will change everything.
MMS #18. Why happiness is not the answer to your problems.
US News: Year Round School Calendar
Bohr Quote

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

Ideal day, week, and year...but really why life is so hard.

In this episode, Aaron and Trishul begin an exercise to imagine their ideal day, week, and year. What does your perfect Monday look like? What might be too much for every day but sensible for once a week? They discuss the reasons why their model day feels so good. But then, they delve into competing societal pressures and soon uncover the challenges around putting an ideal day into action.

Episode References
MMS #15. George Kinder: Three life questions that will change everything.
MMS #18. Why happiness is not the answer to your problems.
MMS #7. The impact of friends, family, and communities on happiness.
Neuroscientist 'These 5 Things Will Improve Your Life Drastically'
George Kinder's Step-by-Step Guide: How to Develop a Life Plan and Live into Your Dreams of Freedom

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

Understanding mutual fund share classes helps transparency in financial services.

In this episode, Trishul and Aaron discuss mutual fund shares classes and the evolution of mutual funds over the last forty years. They describe how stock brokers transitioned to financial advisors and how the Internet improved investor education. Consumer demand and aligned incentives fostered the rise of fee-only investment advisers more than regulatory requirements. ETFs are not necessarily better than mutual funds if you understand how they work and where they came from.

Episode References
MMS #11. In the active vs. passive debate, fees and taxes matter more than trying to identify alpha
MMS #90. What you need to know about advisory fees.
Investing Forever - Active vs Passive
Vanguard Share Classes
Invesco S&P 500 Index A (passive mutual fund)
John Bogle (Vanguard Founder)
American Funds Growth Fund of Amer A
Vanguard S&P 500 Mutual Fund
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

Aaron and Trishul think it's okay not to save. WHAT?!?!

In this episode, Aaron and Trishul discuss scenarios when it is okay not to save for the future. When is traditional financial planning too conservative? When taking a life planning approach, it's okay to prioritize well-being over prudent financial decisions. It may require future flexibility, but with good process and intention, you should feel like you are living the life you want rather than making a sacrifice.

Episode References
MMS: What's the big deal about FIRE?
MMS: Most important financial advice for someone in their 20's
Kitces: 3 Types of Retirement
MMS: #15. George Kinder: Three life questions that will change everything.

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

When AI becomes more intelligent than humans, is humanity doomed?

In this episode, Trishul prepares Aaron for when Artificial Intelligence becomes Artificial General Intelligence and the ensuing implications for humanity. He explains inner alignment and outer alignment problems and how capitalism and the prisoner's dilemma may mitigate AI creators from pursuing sufficient safety. When we start to consider scale and accessibility, it's possible that despite the best efforts of the vast majority of humanity, we can't overcome humans' inability to unanimously agree on anything.

Episode References
Artificial General Intelligence
Nuclear Close Calls
Prisoner's Dilemma
Moloch
Youtube: AI Alignment Problem
Microsoft $10B investment in OpenAI
Great Filter
Don't Look Up
I, Robot

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.

How do you decide when to sell your NSOs?

In this episode, Aaron uses the Netflix Employee Stock Option Plan to explain how to decide when to sell NSOs. Just because the stock price has appreciated doesn't mean you should cash out now. Options have both moneyness and time value. Aaron explains leverage to help understand when an option is sufficiently "in-the-money" and a Black-Scholes Calculator to quantify the Time Value. You can then apply an Insight Ratio to determine if you should cash out now or hold on for longer.

Episode References
Graystone: Netflix employees should wait to sell their stock options
Graystone: Netflix Employee Stock Option Plan
myStockOptions.com Black-Scholes Calculator
Yahoo Finance: NFLX
NFLX Volatility
StockOpter Insight Ratio®

Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.