Correlating & Aligning - Enough & Judaism: "Jewish Personal Financial Planning"

Judaic Financial Planning ©2001

Yaakov (Jim) Schwartz

This land is mine; you are but wayfarers

Leviticus

            In seeking his own protection from physical pain and extinction, and validation of worthiness, man has: confused the primary currency (God aka Hashem) with the current currency (dollars, deutsche marks, degrees, etc),  twisted responsible guardianship (“owning up to”) into ownership, and rationalized and contorted the concept of enough into comparative more at the cost of repair, relationship, intimacy and teshuvah. Metaphorically, he has sought via the current currency to secure the illusion of self reliance -rugged individualism only to acquire the reality of his insecuriority - ragged individualism.

Currency

Money talks, no one walks – Cy Harold’s Men’s Clother’s 54^th & City Line (Philadelphia)

            Currency shares the same root as the word current. Currents flow – they circulate. Circulation (exchange) occurs to and from the source (the primary current). The primary current is the ocean; the current currents are tributaries from this main current. Currencies come and go (despite man’s efforts to permanently em-“bank” a current) while the primary current endures – circulating in time and space.

Today’s currency (current currency) is tomorrow’s useless store of value. For example, in Nazi Germany concentration camps dollars, diamonds, and gold were of little use to an internee. Yet, shoelaces were a most valuable current currency. Without laces, the internee’s feet would become frostbitten disabling the internee from work. Not being able to work was a guaranteed death sentence to the ovens. The rock solid Deusche Mark, even in wheel barrows, were of little value during the hyperinflation in Germany after WWI. Yet despite the transitory value of the current currency and despite printing “In G-d We Trust” on our dollars as perfunctory acknowledgment of the primary source, man vests his protection in the “ownership” of the current currency – i.e. of dollars “the almighty dollar”– for his protection. (“Believe in G-d but row away from the rocks and cut the deck twice.”)

Ownership or Guardianship

More, more, more, what the hell are we, all morticians?

e.e. cummings

Man thinks he owns directly or indirectly, via the current currency, but in reality he merely leases. The very word “ownership” denies its source – the primary current (Hashem). Man denies the source even though in Leviticus Hashem tells man, “this land is mine, you are but wayfarers.” Man denies the source despite the story of Cain (acquire). Cain was told to give first fruits “off the top” rather than quantity after the fact when sufficiency of the crop was determined – (acknowledging the royalty of the primary current). Cain gave from “profits”- the net not from the gross let alone the “firstlings of the flock.” He  acknowledged the current currency first and foremost. Man denies the source, when, though he is  instructed that at the 7^th 7^th year (the Jubilee) all is to be returned to its source, he creates loopholes to continue his deluded idolization of the “ownership” of the current currency – even beyond the grave.

Temporal possession is not ownership.

Man has confused the word ownership with his “owning up to” his responsibility as Guardian.

Guardianship implies responsibility. Also, with the responsibility of guardianship comes explicit liability during the steward’s transitory tenure..  Ownership (mine not thine) enjoys the fruits and avoids the liability through clever linguistic rationalizations, legal devices (trusts, partnerships), and insurance to transfer any risk or liability.

Mine not thine.

Ironically, numerically in Hebrew, the sum of the values of the continuum of the word ownership (from owner/master to “have” to purchase ownership) yields the total value of 572. The numerical value of guardianship (shomare) is 540. The difference between the numerical value of “ownership” and guardianship is 32 – the number of the heart. Idolized current currencies are heartless – here today gone tomorrow - jilted.

The word “ownership” denotes continuity, permanence, and certainty. Idolization of ownership of the current currency becomes about acquisition (as in Cain and Citizen Kane) for having (310 in Hebraic numerical value) This having ownership is not about guardianship. It is not a having to share nor a having to use but a having to possess – now and forever. Having  is the fortress of the current currency denying its temporal nature, and its origin. Guardianship – stewardship are mere words invoked at UJA fundraisers honoring a contributor with a plaque or monument in his or her name.

With having to possess, there is never enough. Enough is a little more.  The common distinction of haves and have nots is misguided. There are have a little want some more and have nots. This having is a self defeating comparative – as more, once defined, always moves the goal posts “for a little more” just in case. The having of “more” of the current currency is never fulfilled despite ever more expensive diversions and palliatives. There isn’t satisfaction in this temporal ownership as more is just a temporary “hit” bandaiding the emptiness the separation from the primary current – the source, the origin – Hashem. More is like simultaneous consumption of Chinese & German food. A half an hour later, you’re hungry for power. Ironically there is no more.

 More of the current currency and what it converts to, after a certain level of income, yields diminishing happiness. From 1940 to 1990, Gross Domestic Product Per Capital more than tripled (333%) in inflation adjusted terms, while during the same period, the index of those ranking themselves subjectively “very happy ” declined 4%. In the General Social Survey (NORC) the percentage ranking themselves happy in 1972 (on the heels of a recession) was approximately 35%. By 1994, the percentage declined sequentially – without intermittent rise – to 31%.

Despite more (more income, more possessions, more of the current currency) – in real inflation adjusted terms – people feel “less” happy. In the meantime, despite more depression has increased (Prozac is one of the 5 leading drugs) while during the same 1972-1994 period we’ve experienced declines in happiness in marriage (68% to 62%), satisfaction with jobs (51% to 45%), and satisfaction with their place of residence (21% to 17%). And during the same period, though real income rose dramatically, the percentage of those “pretty well satisfied” declined from 33% to 29% - despite “having” more of the current currency.

More, more, more ironically produces dissatisfaction and the feeling of less. Like a nymphomaniac who can’t get satisfaction – the answer to more – is more – more of the current currency – as a palliative -rather than to deal with the underlying separation & emptiness – the LACKtose intolerance.

Responsibility & Balance – Enoughness

Boychik, everything in moderation, nothing in excess

Tillie “Bubbe” Schwartz repeatedly invoked

Everything in moderation – even moderation.

The first query of Adam by Hashem after eating of the apple isn’t one of shame (“why did you do this, doofus?”) but responsibility (“where are you, Adam?”) Responsibility without shaming.

Guardianship demands responsibility (624 in Hebraic numerical value). Guardianship isn’t about more – having getting more – rather to the contrary, Guardianship assumes a liability, a duty to develop one’s portion, and responsibility for that which it is entrusted. When “having” (310) is subtracted from responsibility (624), the result is 314 the number of Shaddai.

3^rd Century Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish defined Shaddai as – “the one who said ‘dai’ (enough). Others Shaddai in terms of one of our relationships to Hashem as”G-d almighty, G-d all sufficient, ENOUGH in Hebrew. In both definitions, Shaddai is Enough not more.

Cain and Abel could be considered the first story of the struggle between More (acquisition of the current currency as one’s savior) and Enough (Shaddai). Cain needed more of the current currency; Abel felt Shaddai was enough – the enduring current.

Derivatively, more  has become the basis of all personal financial planning; in contrast, enough is the basis of Judaic personal financial planning – though rarely practiced.

The fundamental difference is acknowledgment or denial of source and the distinction in relationship between ownership or guardianship.

At the end of the year, the successful Chassid businessman made an accounting of all the business he had transacted during the year. When it came to the bottom line where he was supposed to write the net revenue over the expenses, he wrote, “There is none other than G-d” (Deuternomy 4:35).

Rebbes and Chassidim, Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski

For the Chassid, revenue less expense wasn’t profit added to his “net worth” but rather the result was Prophet derived from Hashem to which he was a guardian.

Guardianship is a balance – a dialectic between earthly physical needs of the instinctual and the responsibility of the spiritual.

“Where there is no flour; there is no Torah. Where there is no Torah there is no flour,”

Rabbinical saying

We are here in the material to earn our return –repairing (Tikkun) &spiritualizing the material in relationship in balance.

Balance is developing one’s portion – one’s enoughness – no more no less – in relationship not rivalry (interpersonal comparative more “let me cut off my brother’s head so I can be taller.”).

R’Moshe of Mekarov said, “Dry land absorbs water. (enough) If the earth is already saturated, additional water turns it into mud. (more)”

More becomes less.

Cain (acquire) wanted “more.” Shaddai (G-d enough) was enough for Abel giving of his first fruits off the top regardless of profit or loss.  Cain (acquisition) murdered and tried to avoid responsibility like Adam.  And Cain  got his.

More becomes less.

Mud and murderers.

“Relationshipping” – “Alongside”

With his poetry to protect him…I am a Rock, I am an Island.

Song by Simon & Garfunkle

            Believing, annually, for the past 40 years that the end was near, a friend purchased and developed at the cost of millions a “self sustaining” farm – replete with crops, windmills for energy, etc. in Australia.

            Finally, after years of planning and careful planting, the crops came in only to be destroyed by the parrots.

            Moral: Man plans, Hashem laughs.

           

Idolized ownership yields, eventually, it’s own parrots. More and more of the current currency yields less and less exposing  the underlying LACK – empty (Hebraic numerical value is 310).

Empty (310) subtracted from Having (310) yields zero – nothing. Having and empty, different sides of the same coin, is a zero sum game.

As Naomi Reiman wrote, “have everything, experience nothing.”

Yet, out of no-thing comes everything. Out of the empty comes everything. At the bottom of the black hole is light.

The refraction is knowing the emptiness rather than avoiding it through current currency purchases..

Emptying is the remedy to empty (LACK).

Emptying requires space to reveal that hidden that awaits -already. Closets filled with clothes which haven’t seen a 30 inch waist in 10 years must be emptied to make room for the new “easy living” wardrobe. By the same token, if all the stations on one’s personal FM are already reserved, there is no sense in getting a new antennae. Without  space  in the closet and broadband on the dial, there is no room for a new relationship without acknowledgment of the primary current. There is only shifting of formats, letting out pants, and rearranging the seats on the Titanic. (Professionals built the Titanic; Amateurs built the Ark.)

The hidden that awaits remains concealed – unable to get airtime (maybe a public service announcement when no one is listening at 3:00 a.m.) or find a empty hanger.

By Hashem’s design, man Lacks. He is incomplete. Man is not self sufficient. Man is “Lack”sadasical.

Without Hashem and other men, man perishes. (Think of how many hundreds – thousands of people were involved from planting the tree to just delivering the #2 pencil to Office Max. Think how many thousands more were involved in creating the transportation to allow one to purchase the #2 pencil and take it home. Man assumes and forgets his need of other men. He is very skilled at “sharpening the eraser!”)

 Man is a social being. Man requires - -- regardless of the socially desirable delusion of rugged individualism and self sufficiency – other men. Men exchange their energy directly (raising a barn) or via a stored medium of exchange (the current currency) whether in concentration camps or Hilltop for survival, repair, well being, and Teshuvah.

Relationships, like currency, without circulation (exchange)  in time end.. Hashem created free will (within boundaries of choice and attitude) and space for man relate to other men – a test trial in man to earn his Teshuvah. The quality of man’s “relationshipping” (coined by Rabbi Gershon Winkler) earns steerage and deposits of an enduring currency for the world to come – the hidden that awaits. 

However, in matter, most relationships have devolved to Thou –It – utilitarianism rather than I –Thou. Give to get – sex for security – is an exchange – a circulation but a currency only of the instinctual. Looks fade and current currencies devalue, and parrots eat the crops. The Thou –It relationshipping of rugged individualism turns ragged – withdrawals are made from the man’s account in the world that comes.

 Deposits are made for I Thou relationshipping, deeds, emulation (aligning with Hashem’s will) and  intimacy.

Love justice and walk humbly with thy G-d

Micah

While bitul (nullification) is an ATM deposit technique for some, nullification implies a certain surrender – extinction. Why would Hashem created that which is to become extinct, nullified? Rather the question isn’t nullification but appropriateness – being Kosher – redirection not extinction or nullification. Besides – no energy is lost in the economy the universe. Being Kosher –  is being appropriate & balanced (refined and concise – the Hessed and Gevorah fused by the Tif’eret). In being Kosher, one isn’t merging with Hashem but, to paraphrase Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, to walk “alongside” Hashem in alignment with his aims. Life is a spiritual dress rehearsal for the world that comes – the hidden that awaits. Emulating brings one closer to Hashem – in alignment, alongside. Nullification attempts to extinguish or create mutually exclusive behavior. However, since no energy is lost in the universe, that which is nullified – like a squeezed balloon – displaces elsewhere and not necessarily in an appropriate way. This is not emptying the closet but denying the existence of the closet and the size 32 waist pants that haven’t fit in 7 years.

“Goodwill” isn’t just for a charitable tax deduction

When space is created through emptying, walking alongside Hashem, there is the possibility for intimacy. According to Nobel Laureate Kenneth Arrow, the lubricant of society is trust. The lubricant of intimacy is trust in Hashem’s current and derivatively oneself. The conditions for this trust (after a through housekeeping) is an environment of safe opposition where there can be dependence without co-dependence. This safe opposition – without shame and blame though within a mutual responsible guardianship of relationship creates a circulation and expands the currency. (“Of course, a tight prenuptial wouldn’t hurt – just in case,” one in transition might state relative to a maritial relationship.)

 

Teshuvah (the return) is earned developing one’s portion, knowing “enough,” creating spiritual currency via emulation alongside, emptying where necessary, relationshipping, repairing the world (inside out), spiritualizing the material, moving the 1/8^th of an inch from the restriction (Egypt) of habits,  stepping on the cracks in mutual trust – and falling forward in faith. This is Judaic Personal Financial Planning in Hashem’s economy of the universe.

More vs Enough: The Abundance Distinction

More vs Enough: The Abundance Distinction

"Who is rich, he who is satisfied with his lot" also translated as "Who is rich? The one who is appreciates what he has…"

(Talmud—Avot 4:1)

Daat – in Kabbalah meaning ‘connection’ also ‘knowledge’ which exchanges  between creation and development (in the former) or attaches between wisdom and understanding in the latter

Tzavta – connection. Tzavta is the Aramaic origin of 'mitzvah' (which did not mean 'good deed'). Mitzvah is a changing from the origin Tzavta to mean 'commandment' as in Bar Mitzvah - son of the commandment.

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Let us not confuse 'abundance' (in the biblical sense) with more. More rarely if at all relieves anxiety - there is always another risk to invent or elevate - to rationalize the need for More. More itself habituates and ironically with its free floating never ending only momentarily tamped down anxiety actually comforts (with familiar habituation) as an altered state not having to deal with 'why I am" - one is meant to be - meant to do. And ironically, more better now has a way of becoming, in time, less worse later' while the anxiety and habituation are the placeholders.

Also note more is reinforced by concept of 'haves and have nots' with the unstated underlying behavior of- have a little want some more (and not smores....).

More goes to 'I did it. Mine. 'Ownership' whereas enough owns UP to connecting (yes, Tzavta/daat?) maybe to 'what one is meant to be; meant to do.'

That doesn't mean enough solves (as Sowell said, 'there are no solutions only tradeoffs') - if anything 'enough' confronts - the question of meaning IN one's life (unless the individual circles back to more - being a MOREon.)

However, enough may give the opportunity as to 'enough to live for; enough to live on' - developing one's chalek (one's portion – or as Rush Limbaugh would state ‘one’s talents on loan from God’) - in continuing to complete one's incompletions.

Abundance, in contrast, goes to enough to being satisfied with one's lot, developing one's chalek, wanting what one has --- abundance is enough - not more.

Finally, if you the reader will excuse my Judaic reference & orientation, it is no coincidence - (God’s way of winking that there is no word for God connoting the word more in Hebrew as in the 100 plus names and or references. However, I believe the third name for God in Genesis if not mistaken is Shaddai - containing the root word – dai – meaning enough. And ‘in the beginning’ after each of  5 of the seven days - the reference at the end of each of those days was 'it was good' (as in it was good enough'. I don't recall in nomenclature the translation the phrase 'it was good more'.

One may take the connection (Tzavta) from enough (especially functioning as daat as well connection, attach, exchange) especially in development of character, chalek, and meaning IN one life -- abundance. It is questionable that more facilitates connection/daat mode other than  plaques, and recognized in the society columns for a contribution to CUPS (monuments, buildings) rather than Coffee (the actual cause – direct dollars in).

And so abundance as --More, better, now (more, for more's sake) has a habit of becoming  less, worse, later - AND that's the LESSon increasing personal financial anxiety, as I see it.

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Finally, the above said there is a question of distribution (being a distributor of the community – a Judaic concept). Distribution is OWNing UP and is extremely difficult given the preponderance of 'displacing bodily fluids down one's leg' by so called self serving charitable institutions ‘dissipating abundance.’ The self aggrandizing holier than thou charitable institution bureaucrats masquerading as ‘do gooders’ do not understand nor wish to understand social entrepreneurship, accountability, output - preferring its own perks, salaries, perpetuation CUPS (buildings) giving good lunch and shiny plaques (sans Prevacid and or beta blockers) rather than accomplishing its mission/THE COFFEE (which would put the bureaucrats out of business). Thus March of Dimes is still taking quarters (excuse me ‘reinventing itself.’)

Discounting or The Non Recognition of Our 2nd Most Valuable Assets

Discounting or The Non Recognition of Our 2^nd Most Valuable Assets

(Whatever it is), I’ll figure it out (regardless of the situation)

A Former Client

            We believe in the current currency (money)

            The money belief supersedes even God.

            Forget our words to the contrary – look at our actions.

            (Jesus saves; Moses invests)

            As a result, when younger, we engage in the ‘rat-e race of return’ in wealth accumulation and older (if the former rat-e rate isn’t habituated) the emphasis in our personal financial literature (an oxymoron itself) is on sustainable income to ‘not outlive our money.’ Of course the implication in the fear of outliving one’s money is dependence, taking shit, losing fu-ability. And so, we focus almost exclusively (and that’s a kind characterization) on distribution rules (for independence, not taking ca-ca, and fu-ability) to sustain income (fu-ability)  including but not exclusive  be it:

·         various systematic withdrawals

·         the 4% rules,

·          modified 4% rules,

·         buckets,

·         ladders,

·         annuitization,

·         matching,

·         glidepaths,

·         triple floor leverage rules

·         guardrail (1)

·         ratchet (2)

The emphasis in the wealth accumulation then transitioning to income sustainability cycle is on putting’ it in and takin’ it out (relative to money not as in our youthful escapades). The aforementioned is not to dispel the use and application of any particular method or combination thereof – but rather to recognize that they are but tools not idols not our saviors to bow down & genuflect to save one’s tool or tuchass for that matter.

(Yes, of course, I’ll concede, one thing money can’t buy is poverty as my own Dad would say.)

            At the same time while idolizing at the altar of money (the current currency), we minimize, discount, and ignore (other than lip service) our adaptability and resourcefulness especially those of a self proclaimed religious bent that ‘all is derivative’ (but not from government, Senator Warren or President Obama). Most ignore, whether religious or not, our own empirical experiences of past adaptation to challenges and give little credence in the future to again be able to ‘figure it out.’ Assertions of being old aside, wisdom beats energy despite the fact it’s 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Financially speaking, there is not only a sequence of rate of return to recognize but also a lifecycle sequence of consumption which is also inherently adaptable (though – using hyperbole giving up On Star™ on the  Cadillac or Showtime’s monthly cost as a sacrifice in reducing one’s $40,000/mo.spending suspends credibility).

            The aforementioned isn’t a question of money as one’s savior vs distribution method vs one’s resourcefulness and adaptability but context. Rather than elevating the recognition of our adaptability and resourcefulness we devalue ourselves only increasing fear and the pursuit of MORE which is never ENOUGH. (Result: too often ‘More, Better, Now has a habit of becoming Worse, Less, Later.)

            (Of course, if all else fails, there is always political legalized theft and coveting renamed and justified as entitlement, fairness, redistribution, social justice and or other assertions to mask legalized robbery but that means prostrating and  bowing to another false idol progressive liberal government and its Dear Leader. Ironically, the theft only leads to equality of misery.)

A prisoner cannot escape a prison if he doesn’t know he’s in prison

To paraphrase Guirjieff

(he’ll just go into another cell – Schwartz)

            I can’t say I’m a “I’ll figure it out, deal with it” person. But recognition & re-evaluation of one’s adaptability and resourcefulness allows even increases a little more choice (rather than anxious Xanex inducing blind slavery & idolatry to a current currency which tomorrow could be devalued, confiscated in the name of ‘social justice, fairness, entitlement, redistribution’ – HELLalujah.)

*(1)*(2) Floor Ceiling Systematic Withdrawal Rules

(see previous blogs on distribution methods mentioned above)

            “Yeah, yeah, yeah… that’s nice – so what - but tell me about the Guardrail and Ratchet” distribution methods, “Mr. Adaptable, Resourceful, I’ll Figure It Out!”

            Recognizing the futility of the aforementioned, there are two other methods of distribution to consider for income sustainability systematic withdrawal (without or without Viagra ‘for premature accumulation’):

            The Guardrail Rule by Jonathan Guyton:

·         initial withdrawal rate 5%

·         adjust for inflation

·         Prosperity Rule: yearly when withdrawal amount is 4% or less of accumulation thereafter increase the withdrawal amount by 10%

·         Capital Preservation Rule: yearly when the withdrawal amount amounts to 6% of the accumulation take a 10% cut in the withdrawal amount

The Ratcheting Safe Withdrawal Rate by Michael Kitces

·         If and when the initial accumulation has increased 50%, can increase the annual withdrawal amount (increased annually by inflation) another 10% but the bump can only occur once in every three year period.

The Intersection of ENOUGH with Meaning IN One’s Life

The Intersection of ENOUGH with  Meaning IN One’s Life

            Since 1977 thru 20 years of practice of and now 39 years of writing about – preaching about ENOUGH, the definition thereof has evolved sequentially

·         Clientele realizable goal determination coordinated with orderly plans for their desired achievement

·         A process of connecting personal resources (including money) to support life goals

·         Healing personal financial anxiety, putting money in its place, to connect to one’s significance

·         Healing personal financial anxiety, puttin’ money in its place, to elevate to connect to one’s significance and assignment – enough to live on; enough to live for

·         Healing personal financial anxiety, putting money in its place, to elevate to connect to transcend to one’s significance, assignment and meaning – what one was meant to do and meant to be with enough to live on and enough to live for

Yes, nuanced changes but significant – especially the inclusion of the word meaning as the will to meaning is particularly exposed by now former clients, friends, etc all over 45 seek meaning (second only to the fear of outliving their money – dependence) with repeated variation on the them of meaning phrases including --

·         Seeking a new chapter

·         Making a difference

·         What next

Meaning.

And when meaning isn’t there – again other than further preoccupation & habituation with the fear of outliving their resources (giving little value to their own adaptability and resourcefulness),  there is:

·         Reversion to making the habituated “more” via

1.      Ad-Venturesome Capital

2.      Running for Office

3.      Going back into the business/profession that they were sick of, even tough the skill was there but the love was gone

4.      Wanting to make a difference in 20 minutes with the same level of skill it took them 20 years in prior endeavors – only to be frustrated

·         Palliation

1.      Trips

2.      Golf

3.      Someday things – they get bored with after 3-6 months

4.      Buying after life insurance for their comfort (and hedging their bets) from the Spiritual ‘praying upon’ Pulpit Religious & Happiness industries

·         Seeking Altered States (which the Happiness Industry – psychobabblists, otherwise failed academicians, the Happily Ever After businesses (including Disney, marijuana, and alcohol industries) has preyed upon though Hedonic Adaptation will not be denied and larger and larger more expensive doses are needed for the same ‘diversionary high’

ENOUGH doesn’t heal the hole in the soul however expressed. In fact, it may expose the wound further to the question of ‘why I am’ – yes meaning. (Of course, there are those who have accepted what a Banker’s Life of Iowa (now Principal Group)  manager said to me at age 23, ‘Jim, you are born. You go to school. You get a job. You get married. And then 66,75 80 years later you die. That’s it.”

So ENOUGH (though not a substitution for adaptability and resourcefulness let alone its recognition) however may allow one to connect to elevate to transcend to one’s significance, assignment – meaning IN one’s life. Notice the phrase ‘meaning IN one’s life’ is not ‘the meaning OF life.’

When Tarzan goes from one vine to another vine – there is that brief moment when neither hand is on either vine. I would call that brief interlude – that interval – the di-vine or fall.

ENOUGH may intersect at meaning – but doesn’t cause meaning – and if anything ENOUGH may expose the wound of lack/lacktose intolerance – the lack of meaning IN one’s life: the challenge and the opportunity of Why I AM.

            And given the above, I have been informed by Investment Manager Ben Dover, of the reopening of the following mutual fund.

The Altered States Fund™ (symbol: OFF)

(picture dice snake eyes)

Tis better to alter than be altered

(so sayeth many a male canine)

            Turned off by the Obama -nation State of America?

            Turn off, Tune in, Drop Some Bucks into the Altered State Fund (OFF)

            OFF: invests in the following numbing/palliating/distracting mood enhancing industries to ‘get one off’:

• Alcohol (Distill, Swill & Refill)
• Tobacco/Pot (Wackie Tobaccie)
• Gaming – (Thrills & Chills)
• Sports (Bread & Circuses)
• X Rated Entertainment (Frills, Thrills & Handbills)
• Resorts (Sandals, Club Med etc)
• Companion Animals (Oxytocin & Devotion)
• Organized Religion’s Commemorative Plaques, Chachkas & Amulets

(Afterlife Insurance)

            The Altered States Fund Capitalizing On Great Escapes

A Kish Meir ‘Altered’ Tuchass Member of The Shtup © Family of Funds™

(A Tongue On Cheeks Production, 2013 update 2014, 2015)

Net Worth, Worthy, & The Worthwhile

‘Net Worth, Worthy, & The Worthwhile’

I’m not worthy; I’m not worthy

Alice Cooper

Worth- (of) value, merit, significance, meaning, appeal

Worthy – commendable, admirable, creditable, laudable, praiseworthy

Net worth:  a key measure of how much an entity is worth. A consistent increase in net worth indicates good financial health; conversely, net worth may be depleted by a decrease in asset values relative to liabilities.

On financial balance sheets, the net of physical and intangible assets less liabilities is classified as ‘net worth.’ And even in personal financial planning, net worth (adjusted to assets less objectives cost and liabilities) does not reflect let alone  acknowledge the following assets (increasing ‘worth’ of)

·         Adaptability and resourcefulness that created the assets (Baruch Hashem)

But what I do have are a very particular set of skills

Liam Neeson ‘Taken’

            Each of us has a portion (chalek). This portion/trait may be developed and manifested as a particular set of skills or remain unmanifested. But most have incurred in their life – at one point or another – challenges, difficulties, and in particular financial obstacles – which they have overcome and not unusually due to their ‘particular set of skills.’

            I would often ask clients or participants at my workshops:

·         Have you incurred difficulties and especially challenges at one time or another in your life.?

·         Did you have overcome those difficult situations?

Invariably every client assented and attendees raised their hands.

Yet, where on the balance sheet – the net worth statement – is this adaptability and resourcefulness – recognized let alone monetized?

Currencies come and go – get devalued – ravaged by inflation etc.

And yet, that which we possess – the adaptability and resourcefulness – which assists us in navigating these potential challenges is assigned no value other than a nod to ‘human capital’ by yackety yak’ “I want to be your best friend so I can maintain my 1% asset under management compensation even though robo advisers are now charging 35 basis points or less” financial planners. (1)

And on a spiritual level, especially addressing those who are not only concerned with ‘outliving their money’ but as much now or moreso – seeking meaning IN their life – ‘enough to live on, enough to live for:

·         Our soul curriculum assets –  incompletions of the soul that have been completed or made the progress made toward completing

·         The good done & reflected (inside out) - guilt money, fruit of a poison tree) or for vanity (commemorations, business development and plaques – (and I ain’t talking cholesterol plaque)

And so, net worth – net worthiness is related to tangible and intangible financial assets and or assets which otherwise can be ‘monetized’ shortchanging adaptability, resourcefulness, soul curriculum assets, and the good done – only increasing dependency of on current currencies (as if there is never ‘enough’ which can come and go.