Welcome to the first post of the Finance With Santiago newsletter. It has taken me months to decide on the subject and what to write about. Expressing my thoughts on money through writing took more work than I anticipated. Money is a complex and highly subjective topic, with different meanings for everyone. Some view it as a means to save for a rainy day, while others see it as a tool for experiences and luxury. A married couple with children might prioritize using money for a safe home and their kids’ education. Nonetheless, money is a complex and challenging topic to cover.
Initially, I intended to educate readers about the stock market, given my experiences and default bias to what I am accustomed to. However, I realized that money encompasses more than just the stock market. While I enjoy stock market investing, which has shaped my career, I believe we would all benefit from exploring the broader topic of money.
To put it simply, money has always intrigued me. Even as a child, I was the one trying to sell you bubble gum or calculating how much I could earn from burning bootleg CDs. I did not come from a family of wealthy investors; my parents worked regular jobs. My mother was a hairstylist, and my father worked various odd jobs and was a Pastor on the weekend. Throughout my life, I’ve been fascinated by how money affects various aspects of our lives. As a teenager, I dreamed of having a penthouse in NYC and owning countless pairs of sneakers. But where do these ideas and values about money come from?
My frequent trips to South America exposed me to cultures where money holds different significance in daily life. Concepts like 401(k) plans and home loans are not standard goals, unlike in Western cultures. It amazed me to see people taking a month off work to travel and socialize, funded by the previous month’s earnings, having little to no savings, only to return and repeat the process. This approach would be foreign to most Americans. My interest in money grew to the point where I left a lucrative career as a drone pilot to help people analyze their finances as a financial analyst. Money undeniably plays a vital role in our lives, determining what we eat, where we live, our children’s education, our quality of life, and even how we perceive ourselves. Yet, money remains a complex topic to discuss, often avoided altogether. Many of us recognize the need for financial insight but find it overwhelming.
Initially, I planned to focus on my journey in the stock market and share my knowledge to open up conversations with others. However, as I entered the world of finance and began my career, I realized that money demanded a broader approach. It was far more complex than my personal experiences and perspectives in the stock market. Engaging in conversations about money with others, I noticed that the technical terms and advice I offered often fell flat. People would give me blank stares or empty responses when I recommended books on investing that had helped me or spoke about how XYZ company’s balance sheet was clean as a whistle. It dawned on me that my relationship with money differed from theirs or yours. It would be challenging to replicate my journey or the tools I used to become more financially educated and aware. While there are general principles we should all follow, such as maintaining a balanced budget, investing in solid companies, and preparing for retirement, I discovered a wide range of situations and priorities when analyzing financial cases for individuals outside of my scope. The great news is that by participating in this newsletter, you’ve taken a step toward creating the financial life you desire. I firmly believe that without a solid foundation of why you’re pursuing something and how you’ll achieve the desired results, it’s like swimming in an endless abyss or sailing without a rudder.
So, why did I decide to write and send out this newsletter? When considering my purpose for the readers, I came up with three core values that I want to deliver consistently:
1. You are what you consume. The more I engage in finance discussions with my readers, the better equipped I become as a financial planner to serve others in my practice; after all finance services is my career if I can’t serve those in need I have no purpose.
2. Do what you love to do. Personally, I have a deep passion for money—I enjoy the process of growing wealth and staying informed about my finances. It’s as simple as that.
3. There is a large population of individuals seeking practical and real-world solutions for their financial well-being. They crave knowledge that is straightforward, accessible, and applicable. I can meet this need because I am just like you. Always learning.
And there we have it. This newsletter will be released bi-weekly, covering various finance-related topics. Some weeks, we may delve into evaluating equity investments, while other weeks, we may focus on returning to the basics of maintaining a cash-flowing budget. There will also be times when we explore intricate details, like discussing the Federal Reserve’s role in our money system. This is our community and our newsletter. I hope that by sharing my experiences and professional knowledge, I can assist you in reaching your best financial life. If I can achieve that goal, then we have all succeeded. Whether you are reading this as an original post or five years down the line, there is no better time to take control of your financial future.
I vividly recall sitting in my housing unit in Hamat, Lebanon, flying drones and assisting the Lebanese Air Force. It was during that time that I committed to dedicate myself to financial education, a journey that began eight years ago at the time of writing this. One thing is sure—there will always be individuals ahead of me, as well as those just starting their journey, just as I once did. However, the beauty is that this is your journey, and you are in control. Money provides us with the ultimate form of self-expression. While money is not everything, it is undeniably something! From losing my entire retirement account through speculative trading in the markets to rebuilding myself mentally, spiritually, and financially, from starting with a portfolio burdened by high maintenance fees to feeling like I couldn’t continue, there is something in these experiences for everyone.
In this newsletter, my goal is not for readers to invest like Santiago (referring to myself). Instead, I want you to invest like YOU. Discover your niche, path, and lane. This may involve making some mistakes along the way and undergoing a process of self-discovery, and that’s perfectly fine. By the end, you will have a clearer picture of yourself, your finances, your purpose, and your core principles when it comes to money. Investing is a journey, not a destination, and I aim to equip you with the tools for success, much like my mentors have guided me. At the end of each newsletter, I will provide a simple task to help enhance our financial skills. I strongly believe in the power of habits, repetition, and muscle memory. Before reading the following letter, take a moment to reflect and make notes about what money currently means to you and how you aspire to build or change that.
To be continued…