The Purpose of Wealth

I usually write about creating and growing wealth, but I’ve never written about why I believe it to be a worthwhile pursuit in the first place.

I believe wealth is valuable because time is valuable and wealth is stored time that can be used in the future. When we save or invest our hard-earned income, we are parting with our time in the present with the expectation that we will have more or better time in the future. The money we save and invest beyond our basic needs of survival is wealth.

“Humans are distinguished from other species by our ability to create miracles. We call these miracles technology. ” — Peter Thiel, Zero to One

My primary motivation for growing wealth is to earn my freedom to pursue the creation of miracles.

I’ve been doing F.I.R.E. since my first paycheck, long before I’d ever heard of the movement. I’ve always wanted my financial independence, which to me just means having the financial resources to pursue my interests, to thrive, without having to worry about the day-to-day struggle for survival.

Why is this so important to me?

You might think it’s strange, but I’ve had an obsession with money and wealth since I first learned about the so-called “robber barons”, Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller, in my 8th grade history class.